about us.

A Long-Standing Family Business

D.F.S was founded in the 1930’s by brothers David and Samuel Ferran.  Today, the company remains an independent family firm.  Justin Ferran has been in charge as Managing Partner since March 2003 and is keen to see the business grow, from providing local services to operating further afield.
D.F.S are the principal light towage, line handling and mooring contractor in the Port of Belfast and provides a number of other essential services in the area.

We have a fleet of five tug/workboats with bollard pulls ranging from 2 to 14.8 tonnes available to carry out towage and mooring work, offering a 365 days a year, 24 hours a day service. Among our clients are the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Harland & Wolff, BP Shipping, BP Oil UK, Peel Ports, James Fisher Everard Ltd. and most of the other major shipping agencies.

Much of this work involves the towage of small and medium sized ships and attending to rope running and mooring. A wholly owned sister company, Ferran Port Services Ltd. currently operate the pilot boat service for the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.


A total of 20 personnel are employed by the two companies, eight of which are engaged in the pilot boat service. The company operates from one main office and two satellites in the dock system and all vessel and personnel movements are controlled via VHF radio and monitored by a vessel tracking system. The standard of staff expertise and training is very high and all our Vessels Masters are licenced. A full safety management system is in operation within the company and audited at regular intervals by Peninsular Business Services and BP Oil UK Logistics.
Old Pics

Among the many services supplied by David Ferran & Sons is the provision of a specially trained 'Quick Response Team' to deal with oil spillage and environmental emergencies in the port of Belfast, Belfast Lough and Larne Lough. This service is carried out under sub-contract to the local towage concern Svitzer Marine Ltd and required staff qualifications to meet the MCA Wk type 1p-5p and IMO level 1-3 standards. Our close working relationship with Svitzer extends to the supply of back-up deckhands for their tug fleet. David Ferran & Sons also has an agreement with Braemar Howells for the provision of back up personnel in Irelend, if and when required.

David Ferran & Sons were sole provider of Towage service during the 2009 Tall Ships event in Belfast.

Vanguard Marine Ltd. is now an associated company of David Ferran & Sons. A company which specialises in the design and construction of steel workboats and tugs <24m LOA and aluminium workboats and windfarm support vessels <24m LOA. Please see here for contact details.