Kees Muller, co-founder of tug ship and salvage company Multraship, died on 24 April 2024 in Terneuzen, reports the family. He was 79 years old.
Muller’s career in the industry spanned over six decades. “Over the years, he was involved in hundreds if not thousands of salvage and rescue operations. With our mother, he was pivotal not only in the development of Multraship, but also in the wider towing, salvage and shipping industry,” write his children Leendert (the current managing director), Eline and Joan.
‘Carousel rave tug’
Kees Muller had a creative mind and, in addition to his operational experience, was a driving force behind the development of the hydrodynamic ‘carousel rave tug’, a co-development between Canadian engineering firm Robert Allan, German manufacturer Voith Turbo Schneider Propulsion and Multraship. A passionate maritime ambassador, he was honoured with the royal order of merit ‘Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau’ in 2011.
“Many will remember him as a pacesetter, singing behind the piano”
Besides Muller’s exceptional entrepreneurial skills and his specialist towing and salvage expertise, he was widely known for his charismatic personality. “He was a real ‘people person’ with a love of boating, music and entertainment. Many will remember him as a pacesetter, singing behind the piano,” the family said.
Forty ships
Multraship is part of the Muller Maritime Group, jointly owned by the Muller family and Hamburg-based Fairplay Towage. A family business with the fourth generation at the helm. Multraship’s core activities are port and terminal towage, salvage, sea towage, offshore and port services. The company operates 40 vessels. Multraship was founded in 1984 by Kees and wife Heleen, after towing and salvage company Willem Muller, co-owned by brother Wim, was taken over by Wijsmuller.
Bond with the water
The family has a connection with water that goes back more than 350 years, starting with the construction and operation of a water mill, which is also where the name Muller comes from. Over time, the family specialised as tugboat owners and salvage companies. With over 250 years of experience in this industry, the family name has become a household name in shipping. It was grandfather Willem Muller who settled in Terneuzen 110 years ago. Kees Muller had been ill for some time, and died at home in Terneuzen.
