Smit International
Dutch maritime services company known for harbour and ocean towage, marine salvage, heavy transport, and offshore support.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Smit International, formally Smit Internationale N.V., was a Dutch maritime-services company whose origins lay in nineteenth-century towage operations serving the Port of Rotterdam. Fop Smit founded the business in 1842, initially using the paddle steamer Kinderdijk to assist vessels entering and leaving the port. The company later expanded its fleet and capabilities, moving from traditional towing into shipbuilding, salvage, offshore support, heavy transport, terminal operations, and related marine engineering. The business developed through both organic expansion and corporate combinations. In 1870, it began using propeller-driven tugs, reflecting the modernization of harbour towage. A 1923 merger with Internationale Sleepdienst led to the name L. Smit & Co.'s Internationale Sleepdienst. During the twentieth century, the company added salvage work and gradually developed an international operating profile. Its establishment of a Singapore-based regional presence in 1975 marked an important step into the Far East. The Singapore operation subsequently handled salvage, ocean, port, and coastal towage, as well as pipeline installation, horizontal directional drilling, and offshore-support activities. Smit's business was organized around several maritime-service areas. These included Transport & Heavy Lift, Salvage, Harbour Towage, and Terminals. Salvage work ranged from wreck removal and vessel recovery to the containment and extraction of hazardous cargoes and bunker fuel. The company was involved in high-profile operations associated with the Russian submarine Kursk, the passenger ship Costa Concordia, the sunken cargo vessel MOL Comfort, the FSO Safer, and numerous other casualties. Larger projects were often delivered through joint ventures or specially assembled consortia, allowing Smit to combine its own equipment and expertise with those of other marine contractors. International expansion and acquisitions broadened the company's capabilities. In 1996, Smit purchased Costain Group's Land & Marine business in Merseyside for £11.3 million, adding land-and-marine construction expertise. In 2007, it acquired Adsteam's Liverpool towage operation. By 2009, Smit and subsidiaries or controlled joint ventures operated a fleet reported at 408 vessels, illustrating the scale reached before its acquisition. The company became the subject of a takeover campaign by Boskalis. Boskalis first made a €1.11 billion offer in September 2008, but Smit's board rejected it. Boskalis subsequently built a substantial stake and continued to pursue a transaction. In January 2010, Smit's board accepted a revised €1.35 billion offer that included commitments to preserve the Smit name and distinct activities. Boskalis declared the offer unconditional in March 2010 after increasing its shareholding to approximately 90 percent. Smit shares were delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on 4 May 2010. The acquisition ended Smit International as an independent listed company, although Smit-branded maritime activities continued within the Boskalis group and its successor operating structures. Post-acquisition references continued to associate the Smit name with specialist marine work. In 2018, Smit International Scotland was involved in a United Kingdom Ministry of Defence vessel-supply arrangement for safety and training purposes. In 2019, Smit and Donjon Marine received a United States Navy salvage-services contract covering much of the Western Hemisphere. These later activities demonstrate the continuing use of Smit's maritime expertise even after the standalone corporate entity had ceased to operate independently.
History
Smit International traces its history to 1842, when Fop Smit established a towage business connected with the Port of Rotterdam. Smit used the paddle steamer Kinderdijk to guide vessels safely through the port approaches. The early enterprise operated as L. Smit & Co. and was subsequently managed by Fop Smit's sons, Jan and Leendert, who expanded the fleet and broadened the company's maritime capabilities. A significant technical step came in 1870, when the company began operating propeller tugs. This change helped it adapt to developments in vessel design and port traffic. Towage remained the core activity, but Smit also entered shipbuilding and other marine businesses. In 1923, a merger with Internationale Sleepdienst produced the name L. Smit & Co.'s Internationale Sleepdienst, reflecting the company's growing position in the towage sector. Smit entered marine salvage during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Salvage subsequently became one of its defining activities, alongside harbour and ocean towage. The company built expertise in wreck removal, vessel recovery, underwater operations, and the removal of oil or other hazardous substances from damaged ships. During the second half of the century, it developed from a Rotterdam-centered operator into an international maritime-services group. The creation of a Singapore regional office in 1975 was an important international milestone. Smit's activities in and around Singapore later included port, coastal, and ocean towage, salvage, offshore support, pipeline installation, and horizontal directional drilling. The Singapore operation had more than 700 employees by 2000 according to the cited reference material, showing the scale of the regional business at that time. The company expanded further through acquisitions. In August 1996, it bought Costain Group's Land & Marine business in Merseyside for £11.3 million. In March 2007, it purchased Adsteam's Liverpool towage operation. These transactions strengthened Smit's presence in marine construction and port towage. Its operating model also relied on joint ventures and project-specific combinations, particularly for technically complex salvage assignments. Smit's record included recovery and wreck-removal operations involving the SS London Valour, MT Betelgeuse, Herald of Free Enterprise, Kursk, Ehime Maru, Prestige, Tricolor, Rocknes, Mighty Servant 3, UND Adriyatik, Costa Concordia, USS Guardian, MOL Comfort, Stellar Banner, Ever Given, Eemslift Hendrika, Felicity Ace, and FSO Safer. Some projects focused on raising vessels, while others involved preventing environmental harm by extracting bunker fuel or other pollutants. The company also worked with partners such as Mammoet, Combinatie Berging Tricolor, and JLMD System on specialized recovery and oil-removal solutions. By 2009, Smit's subsidiaries and controlled joint ventures operated a fleet reported at 408 ships. Its activities were grouped into Transport & Heavy Lift, Salvage, Harbour Towage, and Terminals. The company then faced a strategic change when Boskalis sought to acquire it. Boskalis's initial September 2008 offer was rejected, but continued share purchases and negotiations led to a revised offer accepted by Smit's board in January 2010. Boskalis declared the offer unconditional in March, and Smit was delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on 4 May 2010. The transaction ended Smit International's independent listed-company history while preserving the Smit name and maritime activities within the Boskalis group. The Smit name remained associated with specialist maritime operations after the acquisition. Later cited activities included a 2018 United Kingdom defence-related vessel contract involving Smit International Scotland and a 2019 United States Navy salvage-services award made jointly with Donjon Marine. The historical Smit organization is therefore best understood as a former independent Dutch maritime group whose principal capabilities continued in some form under Boskalis rather than as an independent listed company.
- 2010
Acquisition by Boskalis and delisting
[1]Boskalis completed its takeover process and Smit shares were delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on 4 May.
- 2009
Fleet reaches 408 vessels
[1]Smit's subsidiaries and controlled joint ventures were reported to operate a fleet of 408 ships.
- 2007
Liverpool towage acquisition
[1]The company acquired Adsteam's Liverpool-based towage operation.
- 1996
Acquisition of Costain Land & Marine
[1]Smit purchased Costain Group's Merseyside-based Land & Marine business for £11.3 million.
- 1975
Singapore regional expansion
[1]Smit established a regional office in Singapore and expanded its salvage and marine-services activities in the Far East.
- 1923
Merger with Internationale Sleepdienst
[1]A merger led to the name L. Smit & Co.'s Internationale Sleepdienst and strengthened the company's towage organization.
- 1870
Introduction of propeller tugs
[1]The company began using propeller-driven tugs as it modernized its towage fleet.
- 1842
Towage business founded in Rotterdam
[1]Fop Smit founded L. Smit & Co., initially providing towage and safe vessel movements in the Port of Rotterdam.
Products and positioning
Specialist maritime-services provider combining towage, salvage, heavy transport, offshore support, and marine engineering capabilities for ports, shipowners, governments, and energy-sector customers.
Port services · 1842
Harbour Towage
Smit's original and enduring activity involved using tugboats to assist vessels in ports, harbour approaches, and coastal waters. The business operated in Rotterdam and later in other international ports, including Liverpool and Singapore. Harbour towage supported berthing, unberthing, manoeuvring, and safe movement of commercial ships in confined or difficult waters.
Salvage and wreck removal
Marine Salvage
The salvage division handled emergency response, wreck removal, vessel recovery, underwater engineering, and the removal of hazardous materials from casualties. Its work included major ship and submarine operations and often required specialized vessels, heavy lifting, diving, environmental-control methods, and project partnerships.
Heavy marine transport
Transport & Heavy Lift
Transport and Heavy Lift services supported the movement, recovery, and positioning of large maritime and offshore objects. The activity complemented salvage and offshore engineering by combining marine logistics, heavy-lift equipment, and project-specific vessel resources.
Offshore services
Offshore and Marine Engineering
Smit's international operations included offshore support, pipeline installation, horizontal directional drilling, and related marine engineering. These capabilities broadened the company beyond port towage and allowed it to participate in infrastructure, energy, and coastal engineering projects.
Maritime terminals
Terminal Services
Terminal operations formed one of the company's principal reported divisions. The activity complemented towage, salvage, and transport by providing marine-terminal and associated port-service capabilities.
Brand decisions
2010
Acceptance of Boskalis acquisitionM&ABackground
After the initial offer was rejected, Boskalis increased its stake and presented a revised proposal that included assurances concerning the Smit name and the continuation of distinct operations.
Action taken
Smit's board accepted the revised €1.35 billion offer in January 2010. Boskalis declared the offer unconditional in March after raising its holding to approximately 90 percent.
Aftermath
Smit shares were delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on 4 May 2010, ending the company's independent listed status while its maritime capabilities continued within Boskalis.
Revised takeover offer value. €1.11 billion initial offer → €1.35 billion revised offer (January 2010)
2008
Response to Boskalis's initial takeover offerM&ABackground
Boskalis proposed acquiring Smit International in a transaction valued at €1.11 billion. Smit's board initially opposed the offer, while Boskalis continued building its shareholding and expressing interest in acquiring the company or selected business units.
Action taken
Smit rejected the initial proposal and entered a period of negotiations and ownership pressure as Boskalis accumulated more than 25 percent of Smit's shares.
Aftermath
The initial rejection did not end the transaction process. Boskalis later submitted a higher proposal that was accepted by Smit's board.
Initial takeover offer value. €1.11 billion (15 September 2008)
Recent events
- 2019
Smit and Donjon Marine awarded US Navy salvage contract[1]
Other
Smit International and Donjon Marine were awarded a United States Navy contract to provide salvage services across most of the Western Hemisphere.
- 2019
Smit and Donjon Marine receive United States Navy salvage contract[1]
Other
Smit International and Donjon Marine were awarded a contract to provide salvage services for the United States Navy across most of the Western Hemisphere.
- 2018
Smit International Scotland receives UK defence vessel contract[1]
Other
The United Kingdom's Defence Equipment and Support agency signed an arrangement with Smit International Scotland for vessels used by the Ministry of Defence for safety and training purposes.
- 2013
Smit is involved in USS Guardian salvage[1]
Other
The company participated in the salvage response for the grounded USS Guardian in the Philippines.
- 2012
Smit participates in Costa Concordia fuel-removal work[1]
Other
Smit contributed to the containment and removal of fuel from the wrecked Costa Concordia, an operation intended to reduce the risk of marine pollution.
- 2010
Smit board accepts revised Boskalis offer[1]
M&A
Smit's board accepted a revised €1.35 billion offer from Boskalis, alongside commitments to retain the Smit name and distinct operations.
- 2010
Smit International delisted from Euronext Amsterdam[1]
M&A · Leadership change
After Boskalis declared its offer unconditional and raised its holding to about 90 percent, Smit shares were delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on 4 May 2010.
- 2010
Smit International is delisted after Boskalis acquisition[1]
M&A · Other
Boskalis declared its offer unconditional after increasing its shareholding to about 90 percent. Smit shares were removed from Euronext Amsterdam on 4 May 2010.
- 2008
Boskalis makes takeover offer for Smit International[1]
M&A
Boskalis submitted a €1.11 billion offer for Smit International. Smit's board initially rejected the proposal, after which Boskalis accumulated a significant stake and continued pursuing a transaction.
- 2008
Boskalis makes an initial takeover offer for Smit International[1]
M&A
Boskalis launched a €1.11 billion takeover proposal for Smit International. Smit’s board initially rejected the offer, while Boskalis continued building a stake and pursuing a combination.
Sources1 sources
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