Rimorchiatori Riuniti of Genoa has received an award for being the best Maritime Services Operator in Italy. The presentation was made during the annual Lloyd’s List Italian Shipping Awards held in Naples last month.

This award follows the huge investments made by the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group in the last couple of years, which saw the organisation renewing the group’s fleet of harbour tugs and anchor-handling tug supply vessels.

Throughout the past year, Rimorchiatori Riuniti, which services the harbour towage requirements of the ports of Genova and Salerno has undergone a policy of expansion, resulting in the acquisition of Tug Malta Limited.

Their plan is for Malta to be their base for further development of new ventures in the oil offshore market in the Mediterranean. The establishment of a new Brazilian company for the management of three new anchor-handling tug supply vessels contracted by Petrobras has further distinguished the Group among its competitors in the national market.

Their latest anchor-handling tug supply vessel, the AH Camogli, was delivered to the group in mid-October, and was in Malta last week for its first assignment. The AH Camogli came to rendezvous with the oil rig Attwood Hunter off Delimara Point, and took the rig on tow to the eastern Mediterranean.

The AHTS vessel will be staying with the rig for a few months on contract. A vessel identical to the AH Camogli is being built in Spain for Rimorchiatori Malta Offshore Limited, and will be delivered to Malta in 2010.