Published by Daily Cargo News, 08 May 2026: https://www.thedcn.com.au/news/tugs-towage-a-story-of-innovation
In this article DCN delves into the world of tugs and towage, a sector crucial to the success of ports and offshore projects, and provides fresh insights into environmental innovation, decommissioning, and corporate structuring.
Projects and acquisitions
Bhagwan Marine, a national Australian marine services company, is doing strong business in the offshore sector.
Founded in 2000, it provides a range of marine solutions within ports, nearshore, offshore and subsea locations to industries including oil and gas, subsea, port, civil construction, renewables and defence.
General Manager Corporate & StrategicDevelopment, Peter Carmichael, said the Bhagwan prided itself on “our adaptability and proactive approach, which have earned us a reputation as a trusted partner in marine operations in Australia”.
Bhagwan is one of the largest marine vessel operators and service providers in Australia.
It has a total fleet of 95-plus vessels comprising various vessel types including dive support vessels, tugboats, multi-cats, utility vessels, barges and crew transfer boats, as well as other specialist vessels.
Bhagwan recently played a key role working for Chevron in decommissioning Thevenard Island off Onslow in the Pilbara, providing comprehensive marine support through all phases of the decommissioning process at TVI, from marine support through plug and abandonment (P&A check), fabric maintenance, marine logistics of all the onshore island infrastructure.
Assets used on the Thevenard Island Project
- WB400 construction barge (bare boat charter from Singapore —120 metre heavy lift and eight-point moored accommodation barge.
- Henderson 250’ Cargo Barge—Delivery of cargo to/from Onslow Marine Supply Base (OMSB)
- Bhagwan Abrolhos—Multicat stationed in-field for the duration of the project to assist with anchor handling and barge support.
- Bhagwan Renegade—Shoalbuster tug (42t BP) responsible for towing cargo barge to/from OMSB
- George—Shallow draft pusher tug (14.8t BP) mobilised as required to assist with the manoeuvring of the cargo barge in/out of OMSB.
- CMV Athos—Primary tug (86t BP) responsible for manoeuvring /mobilising/demobilising the crane vessel in the field.
This led to Bhagwan being the lead marine and subsea contractor for the platform removal scope.
“This project has seen successful completion of Australia’s largest offshore decommissioning project to date by a local marine service provider removing nine offshore platforms with more than 850,000 offshore man hours LTI Free,” Mr Carmichael said.
Bhagwan Marine operated a wide diverse fleet of more than 100 vessels, from dive support vessels (DSVs) to offshore supply vessels to inshore tug and barge including shallow water anchor handlers.
Mr Carmichael said the Thevenard Island decommissioning project presented a range of operational challenges, largely driven by its remote location, which required careful coordination of vessels, people and equipment into an area with limited infrastructure.
“We also worked within strict environmental and regulatory frameworks, ensuring all activities met high standards of protection for the surrounding marine environment.
“The multidisciplinary nature of the scope, combining subsea, nearshore shallow water marine ops and onshore work, demanded strong project management and seamless teamwork across specialties.
“All this carried out during cyclone season with multiple demobs thrown in added to the challenging nature of the project.”
We also worked within strict environmental and regulatory frameworks, ensuring all activities met high standards of protection for the surrounding marine environment.
Peter Carmichael, Bhagwan
Challenges were overcome by detailed upfront planning, strong logistical coordination and a disciplined approach to execution through a highly experienced project management team.
Barges operating at the Thevenard Island project.
Bhagwan Marine is lucky enough to have internal SMEs in Marine and Sub Sea, engineering and Project Management and has been operating in and around this field for over 25 years.
Mr Carmichael said a key lesson from the Thevenard Island decommissioning project was the value of early, collaborative planning across all disciplines; marine, subsea, nearshore and onshore, ensuring “full alignment before execution”.
An integrated turnkey approach from the marine removal all the way through to shoreside recycle and disposal was also central to achieving high recycling rates, via load planning, segregation and removal methodologies.
“The project also reinforced how critical strong logistics management is when working in remote locations and how effective interface coordination can significantly reduce complexity on multi‑scope works,” he said.
Key acquisition
Bhagwan Marine recently entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of Riverside Marine Holdings (Riverside).
Founded in Brisbane in 1926 by the Campbell family, Riverside specialises in the management and operation of about 30 diverse vessels, including nine owned, across five established brands.
The acquisition is hailed as bringing together two founder-led businesses with a strong strategic fit, complementary services and a commitment to operational excellence.
“This significant acquisition represents a step-change in scale and scope for Bhagwan, strengthening the company’s position as a preferred marine solutions partner,” Mr Carmichael said.
“The Riverside group has long-standing clients within the industrial resources, scientific research, transport and logistics sectors. These brands will fit well with Bhagwan Marine’s sectored growth strategy in the energy, ports and inshore and defence and sovereign sectors.”