Vernicos Scafi, an increasingly active Greek-Italian venture, has bought its most powerful vessel yet, in a bid to upgrade its salvage and towage operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The company announced in a statement the purchase of the 4,962-bhp Garibaldo (built 2005). Vernicos Scafi didn’t reveal any details of the transaction but market sources in Athens believe that the Chinese-built vessel has cost more than $4m.
With about 80 tonnes of bollard pull, the Garibaldo will become the strongest tug of Vernicos Sciafi, the fleet of which already got a boost earlier this year after a takeover of Greek peer Karapiperis.
High-power vessels like the Garibaldo are in short supply in Greece and the Eastern Mediterran, one of the world’s busiest waterways where environmentally risky maritime accidents are common.
The Garibaldo's previous owners was Purple Water. Switzerland-based Purple Water is linked to Navigest Trust Services, a Geneva-based outfit is listed as the owner of about 20 tugs, cargo ships, small bulkers and cement carriers.
Vernicos Sciafi said it expects to take delivery of the ship, which it calls "one of the most powerful tugs in Eastern Mediterranean" in Venice, in early January.
"Vernicos Scafi is strengthening its position with the acquisition of another unique multipurpose ASD [Azimuth Stern Drive] tug, which is expected to become the most powerful harbor tug in Greece," the company said.
Vernicos Tugs and Italy’s Scafi Societa di Navigazione joined forces in 2019 to create a new towage player. The company is headed by chief executive officer Dimitris Vernicos and vice president Paolo Visco.
