Seacor Holdings Sells U.S. Harbor Towing Business To Bisso, Bay-Houston

Seacor Holdings Inc. announced September 25 that it has sold its U.S. harbor towing assets in its Seabulk Towing Holdings Inc. subsidiary to E.N. Bisso & Son Inc. and Bay-Houston Towing Company.

The Bisso transaction includes operations across ports in Florida and Alabama, with 12 harbor towing vessels including five advanced rotortugs. Bay-Houston is acquiring operations in Port Arthur, Texas, and Lake Charles, La., including eight vessels.

“E.N. Bisso and Bay-Houston are two industry leading harbor towing providers supported by many decades of safe and reliable operations,” said Eric Fabrikant, CEO of Seacor Holdings. “They not only offer our people and assets long-term homes, but also ensure the continuation of high-quality service for our customers.”

For New Orleans-based Bisso, the deal will mean operations in four additional ports and an expansion of the company’s fleet to 34 tugs.

“We are excited to expand our brand into four new ports and are committed to providing the safe, timely and efficient service for our customers and port stakeholders that has come to be expected from E.N. Bisso,” said Matt Holzhalb, president and CEO of E.N. Bisso. “We look forward to growing with the business of these ports and welcome Seabulk Towing’s highly skilled professionals to the E.N. Bisso family.”

Bay-Houston Towing Company, based in Houston, will also see its fleet expand to a total of 34 tugs. The former Seabulk business will be renamed Bay Towing LLC.

“We have admired Seabulk for many years, and Bay-Houston is delighted to expand its operations to two important, high-growth ports,” said Philip Kuebler, president and CEO of Bay-Houston. “We look forward to providing our customers with a smooth transition and long-term investment to support their growth in these ports.”