Tugboat News

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Seaspan ULC for the delivery of two ASD Tugs 2813. The signing took place on May 19, at the International Tug and Salvage (ITS) Convention in Gothenburg, Sweden. The ASD Tugs 2813 will be the first Damen Tugs to enter the Seaspan fleet. The new tugs will be operated under the HaiSea Marine partnership, a joint venture between Seaspan and the Haisla Nation, the indigenous people of Kitamaat Village and the surrounding lands and waters of the Kitimat region in British Columbia.The ASD Tug 2813 is designed for combined safety and efficiency.

SAAM Towage signed a contract with the Belov shipyard for the construction of four new tugboats. This project is part of the company's strategy for the ongoing updating of its fleet and reinforces its growth in that market, where it operates in 19 ports with more than 65 ships.The new vessels will be azimuth tugs with a bollard pull of 70 metric tons. They are equipped with a FiFi 1 fire suppression system and were designed by Robert Allan, an international naval architecture firm.

SAAM and SCHOTTEL reached a comprehensive agreement to promote continuous improvement, raise service standards and strengthen the operational availability of the tugboat fleet of the industry-leading company in the Americas.One of the main focuses of this joint effort will be exploring predictive maintenance solutions for azimuth systems, incorporating condition-based monitoring to determine the optimal time to service the equipment.This approach, already used in industries such as aviation and mining…

Master Boat Builders delivered Saturn for Suderman & Young Towing Company, the first vessel in a new series of Rapport 3000 escort tugs. Saturn is the first of four vessels in this series.Saturn continues to raise the bar in escort tug capability. Measuring 98 x 43 ft. with a bollard pull capacity of more than 90 metric tons, the vessel is powered by two engines producing a combined 7,000 hp and is capable of approximately 13 knots. Designed to accommodate a crew of six, the Saturn carries 44…

On June 9, at the Seawork exhibition in Southampton, Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with Carmet Tug Company for a Multi Cat (MuÇ) 2309. Merseyside UK-based towage and workboat company Carmet Tug Company operates a number of second-hand Damen vessels in its fleet, including a Shoalbuster (SBu) and Stan Tug (STu). In mid-May, Carmet's representatives visited Damen Shipyards Hardinxeld in the Netherlands to inspect and sail aboard the vessel. Following this, the company confirmed its intention to place an order.Damen is preparing the vessel according to Carmet's requirements.

Sanmar Shipyards won new build contracts for up to 10 tugboats, a milestone agreement that coincide with the shipbuilder's 50th anniversary.The contracts include fleet expansions for long-standing partners SAAM Towage and HAISEA Marine, as well as a landmark inaugural agreement with FAIRPLAY TOWAGE GROUP.On Wednesday, May 20, Sanmar formalized a new agreement with long-term partner SAAM Towage for five new vessels: four RAmparts 2400SX-MKIl tugboats and one RAstar 2900SX tugboat. Since 2018, the collaboration has been rooted in a shared commitment to sustainable, high-performance operations.

Master Boat Builders, Inc. recently announced the successful launch of Titan, the second of eight tugboats being built for Maritime Partners, LLC. The launch represents another milestone in the companies’ ongoing partnership and reflects sustained demand for high-performance tug capacity across the maritime and energy sectors.Constructed at Master Boat Builders’ shipyard in Coden, Alabama, Titan measures 88 feet in length and is classified as an A1 Escort Tug and Towing Vessel.

Damen Shipyards Group has received class and flag state approval for its ASD Tug 2713 Fuel Flexible (FF) to operate on methanol fuel. The approval was issued by Bureau Veritas and the Kingdom of the Netherlands flag state, respectively. It follows the approval in principle (AiP) that Damen received for its design of methanol-powered compact vessels in 2023.The 27.25 by 12.83 meter ASD Tug 2713 FF is a multi-purpose vessel, designed to perform coastal and harbour operations including (LNG) terminal support…

Berg Propulsion has been contracted to supply the propulsion and control systems for four diesel-electric, firefighting offshore support tugs which will be the most powerful vessels of their type ever built in Türkiye.The vessels have been ordered by Smit Lamnalco from builder Uzmar Shipyard and will initially operate in French Guyana, with Berg due to deliver equipment for the first in the series in November 2026. All four tugs will feature bollard pull (bp) capacities exceeding 130 tons…

Wilson Sons, a port and shipping logistics operator with over 188 years of experience, has held the launch ceremony of WS Capella, the second tug of a new range of three high-powered tugboats.Just like WS Halcyon, baptised in January this year, WS Capella was built at the company's shipyard and is also an ASD 2312 class tug (23 meters long, 12 meters wide). With azimuth thrusters, 70-ton bollard pull, and capacity to handle the largest ships operating in Brazil during docking and undocking maneuveres…

C&C Marine and Repair held a keel laying ceremony at its Belle Chasse shipyard, marking a milestone in a new series of four hybrid escort tugs being built for Green Tug Towing (GTT). The vessels will support LNG carrier operations at Woodside Energy's Louisiana LNG terminal in Calcasieu Parish.The GTT series joins a separate series of four hybrid escort tugs already under construction at C&C, bringing the shipyard's active tugboat program to a total of eight vessels. Together…

In 2024, Cheoy Lee Shipyards of Hong Kong delivered the first boat of Robert Allan Ltd.’s new Z-Tech 6000 design, the PSA Gemini, to PSA Marine of Singapore. Less than two years later the 16th and final boat of that contract, the PSA Nebula, has left the shipyard for its home in the Port of Singapore. The various boats of this series are now operating successfully in PSA Marine’s fleet, with seven in Singapore, six in Thailand, one in Peru and two in Panama. They add to the fleet…

Master Boat Builders launched Saturn, the first vessel in the new H500 series of Rapport 3000 escort tugs built for Suderman & Young Towing Company, marking Master Boat’s entry into a new class of high-performance escort tug design. The Saturn (H500) marks the first of four vessels in the H500 series, with H501 through H503 currently under construction.The Saturn represents a significant step forward in escort tug capability. With an overall length of 98 feet, a molded beam of 43 feet, and a bollard pull capacity of more than 90 metric tons, the vessel is powered by two engines producing a combined 7,000 hp and is capable of approximately 13 knots.

Sanmar Shipyards has announced the successful completion of sea trials for its 14th fully electric tugboat, marking an achievement in the company’s 50th-anniversary year. This latest vessel, an ElectRA 2500SX design, reinforces Sanmar’s position as a global leader in the transition toward a sustainable, emissions-free towage industry.The ElectRA Series was created through an exclusive partnership with Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. This collaboration introduces a new way of managing harbor operations by focusing on sustainable technology and modern design.

Damen Shipyards Group client Arrendadora Continental has been awarded a contract by the Port Authority of Puerto Quetzal to operate an additional tug, making a total of six tugs operating in the harbor on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. To fullfil its contractual responsibilities, the company will take delivery of a Damen ASD Tug 2312 later this year. The company is the largest tug operator in Guatemala. When this latest vessel is delivered, Arrendadora Continental will operate four vessels in the country.

Silverback Marine has completed seatrials and commissioning of the OX series, twin Z-Drive equipped truckable tug earlier this month.The concept was designed to fulfill the vision of a truly tow-capable, tractor tug style vessel to the non subchapter M market. Traditional truckable tugs, driven by prop and rudder, are suited strictly for pushing, with limited maneuverability. The OX tug however, introduces a 25 x16 hull form with true tractor-tug lines, enabling the Schottel Z Drive propulsion package to deliver a whopping 14…

SAAM closed 2025 with record financial performance, underscoring the continued strength of its harbor towage business across the Americas while positioning the company for further international expansion. For a company that has spent the past several years reshaping its business model and sharpening its strategic focus, the results signal both operational momentum and growing scale in the global tug market.The Chile-based maritime services provider reported net income of $80.4 million for 2025, while EBITDA reached $216.9 million, representing a 15% increase compared to the previous year.

Sanmar has held a ceremony to mark the delivery of four of its fully electric ElectRA tugboats to Türkiye’s state-owned crude oil and natural gas pipelines and trading company, BOTAŞ.The four eco-friendly, emissions-free harbor tugs are based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar ElectRA 2500SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. They will operate at the BOTAŞ Marmara Ereğlisi LNG Terminal and the BOTAŞ Saros FSRU Terminal, both of which are of strategic importance to ensuring Türkiye’s energy security.The ceremony was held at Sanmar’s Tuzla Shipyard on Friday…

One person was presumed dead and five crew members reported missing on Sunday after a tug boat sank off South Africa's southern coast, a multi-agency maritime body said.The tug vessel LEO transmitted a distress message at 1702 GMT on Saturday, reporting uncontrolled water ingress and requesting immediate assistance, South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) said in a statement.The ship sank in the early hours of Sunday, approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay in South Africa's Western Cape province."To date, 13 crew members have been accounted for, consisting of 12 survivors, and one

GONDAN Shipbuilders placed an order with Steerprop for hybrid-capable azimuth units to be installed on a new high-performance tugboat, the first tug design from naval architect Skipsteknisk, for Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi. Steerprop will supply dual-end versions of its SP 50 W D propulsors — the most powerful ducted units it has ever delivered — providing the vessel with the flexibility to operate main propulsion using a diesel engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the girting and capsize of tug Biter with the loss of two lives while assisting passenger vessel Hebridean Princess off Greenock, Scotland.At about 1527 on 24 February 2023, the twin screw conventional tug Biter girted and capsized off Greenock, Scotland while attached to the stern of the passenger vessel Hebridean Princess, which was making its approach to James Watt Dock. Biter’s two crew were unable…

Turkish tugboat builder Sanmar Shipyards has further reinforced its partnership with SAAM Towage through the delivery of a Boğaçay-Class tug that will operate in Latin America.The vessel, which has been named SAAM GUANAY, is based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd and becomes the 13th Sanmar-built tug in the SAAM Towage fleet.Designed for optimum performance in ship-handling operations, the tug measures 24.4m in length, with a 12m beam, 4.5m molded depth, and a 5.45m draft.

Wilson Sons held a launch ceremony for the tugboat WS Halcyon Thursday, January 29, in Rio de Janeiro. It is the first of a new series of three high-powered tugs.Built at the company’s shipyard in Guarujá (São Paulo), WS Halcyon is a class 2312 tug (23 meters long and 12 meters wide) with azimuth propulsion and 70 tons of bollard pull, which is capable of supporting the world’s biggest ships on docking and undocking maneuvers in Brazil's main ports. It is also equipped with a firefighting system with a capacity of 2…