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Hamburg, March 9, 2026
European expansion extends global reach for independent towage alliance
The Tug Network Team (TNT), an alliance of independent towage operators launched in the Americas in 2024, has expanded into Europe with the addition of Fairplay Towage, giving the network a footprint of 113 ports across 13 countries and a combined fleet of more than 200 tugs.
The move marks the first step beyond the Americas for the alliance, which was created to strengthen cooperation between regional towage providers and offer shipowners broader access to independent operators.
By bringing a European operator into the network, TNT now links ports across the Americas and Europe under a coordinated towage platform. For shipowners and operators navigating increasingly complex global trade routes, that wider geographic reach may simplify access to local towage services.
The alliance was originally formed by Group Ocean, Sulnorte, and CPT Towage, with the aim of improving collaboration between independent operators while maintaining local expertise and operational independence.
Fairplay adds major European towage presence
Hamburg based Fairplay Towage contributes a substantial European platform to the network. The company operates in 24 ports across Europe with a fleet of more than 100 tugs.
Its operations cover several key port regions, including Germany, the Baltic states, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium. The company traces its maritime roots back more than 120 years, making it one of the longer established players in European harbor towage.
For TNT, the addition effectively links major North and South American port operations with a cluster of strategic European hubs.
Richard Penning, Head of Global Sales and Growth Strategy at Fairplay Towage, said the alliance offers a way to combine international reach with local expertise.
“Joining Tug Network Team gives Fairplay a stronger international platform while keeping independent towage at its core,” Penning said. “By linking well positioned regional operators, we can offer customers broader reach, local expertise and a more joined up service across key port regions.”
Independent operators seek broader market presence
The expansion also reflects a broader trend in the towage market where independent operators seek to strengthen their position against larger global towage groups.
By forming alliances, regional operators can coordinate services across multiple ports while maintaining their own fleets, crews and operational models.
Jean Philippe Brunet, Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs and Partnerships at Group Ocean and chairman of the Tug Network Team alliance, said Fairplay’s entry significantly expands the alliance’s geographic coverage.
“Fairplay’s entry is an important step for the alliance,” Brunet said. “It extends Tug Network Team into Europe and strengthens our offer to customers looking for dependable towage support across multiple regions.”
He added that the alliance reflects growing demand from shipowners for more options in port services.
“It also underlines the value of an independent network at a time when choice in the towage market matters,” he said.
Network now spans two continents
With Fairplay joining the group, TNT now connects towage operators across Canada, Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil in the Americas, alongside operations in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium in Europe.
Together, the four alliance members provide access to towage services across more than 100 ports while maintaining regional operational control.
For shipping lines, charterers and port operators, the model aims to combine the reliability of local towage providers with the reach of a wider international network.
