UNSPSC 78101716: Marine towing service

The movement and relocation of offshore rigs is a recurring and regular feature of offshore energy exploration, field development and operation.

UNSPSC 78101716 Marine towing service is a Commodity code that encompasses removal, recovery, and repositioning of vessels ranging from small personal watercraft to large derelict ships, funded increasingly through state environmental grant programs and municipal marine resource management initiatives. State and local governments procure marine towing services primarily for three distinct use cases: emergency and routine towing of municipally owned or impounded vehicles, removal and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels designated as public nuisances or environmental hazards, and specialized heavy-lift or long-distance maritime transport. Issuing bodies span city fleet departments, county marine resource divisions, school districts, municipal water districts, and state departments of environmental management. Escambia County Marine Resources Division in Florida emerges as a standout repeat buyer, having released at least a dozen derelict vessel removal solicitations since mid-2026, typically funded through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Opportunity. Fleet departments in Little Rock, Arkansas, Pinellas County Schools in Florida, and the City of Tampa have solicited towing capacity on an as-needed basis, while specialized infrastructure projects—such as Long Beach's submarine towing RFI and the Texas General Land Office's dry-dock removal—signal occasional high-complexity maritime work.

Recent activity concentrates heavily in Florida and the Pacific Northwest, driven by post-hurricane vessel debris and environmental remediation priorities. Florida agencies, particularly Escambia County and coastal municipalities, posted the majority of derelict vessel removal opportunities between June and October 2026, with quotes typically due within one to two weeks of posting and work completion mandated within 14 calendar days of mobilization. Representative recent solicitations include the City of Fort Myers RFP26067 for continuing derelict vessel removal services with 48-hour emergency mobilization (proposals due November 10, 2026), Pinellas County Schools ITB 26-AM-012 for 24/7 towing and recovery of school district vehicles across four service compounds with an estimated annual value of $70,000 (bids due July 29, 2026), the Oregon Department of State Lands Intermediate RFP S1410000016877 for removal of abandoned vessels up to 40 feet on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers (proposals due June 23, 2026, with contract value up to $250,000), and Escambia County's multiple price quote requests for individual derelict vessels funded by FWC grants. Maritime insurance requirements—particularly Protection & Indemnity coverage, marine pollution liability, and maritime workers compensation, typically at $1 million per occurrence minimums—are now standard across all derelict vessel and specialized marine work, reflecting environmental compliance and liability exposure common to the code.