Tugboat News

Arc, a marine technology company, has begun engineering the battery-electric conversion of Harbor Sentinel, a 50-foot harbor tug owned and operated by Pacific Maritime Group (PMG). Supported by funding from the Port of Long Beach through its Technology Advancement Program (TAP) and SWIFT Program, along with a Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust grant administered by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the project will replace the tug’s twin diesel engines with an Arc electric powertrain.Naval architecture firm Glosten is leading vessel engineering.

Defiant marks the delivery of the third vessel in an eight-boat series between two of the Gulf’s leading maritime companies Master Boat Builders, Inc. delivered Defiant, the third of eight tugboats being built for Maritime Partners, LLC. “The delivery of Defiant marks the third tug in our eight-vessel series for Maritime Partners, but it also reflects the steady pace of work at Master Boat Builders”, said Garrett Rice, President of Master Boat Builders. “We’re delivering a tug from our yard every six weeks…

Robert Allan Ltd. announced the award to design a new RAmparts 3800 Ship-Handling/Fire-Fighting 2 (FiFi 2) tug for Ningbo Port. The vessel will be constructed by Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd.Robert Allan Ltd. has built long term relationship with Ningbo Port since 2004, delivering a series of ASD tugs ranging from 32 meters to 39 meters in length, including an LNG-diesel dual-fuel tug. These vessels have been playing important roles in the fleet Ningbo Port, routinely undertaking the most challenged ship-handling operations.Measuring approximately 38 meters in length…

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered SAAM XIMBAL, a new BOGAÇAY Class tug, to SAAM Towage, marking the 18th SANMAR-built tug delivered to the towage operator since 2018.Known as BOGAÇAY XCVI during construction in Türkiye, SAAM XIMBAL will operate from the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas on Mexico's Pacific coast, supporting demanding ship-handling operations at one of the country's major commercial ports.SAAM XIMBAL is based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MK|I design, developed exclusively for SANMAR by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new escort tug to the Greek joint venture SVS, comprising Vernicos Scafi, Spanopoulos and Lyboussakis, as part of its ongoing relationship with Med Tugs. The tug will operate at the Port of Piraeus, providing essential ship-handling and escort services.Built as BIGAÇAY XIX at SANMAR in Türkiye and renamed SVS Ill by her new owners, the tug is based on the exclusive-to-SANMAR RAstar 2900S design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.Relatively compact and highly maneuverable…

Wärtsilä will supply the engines for two new inland waterway pusher tugs being built by Brazilian shipyard Estaleiro Rio Maguari. The vessels, each of which will be powered by three Wärtsilä 20 engines, will support the river logistics operations of LHG Mining on the Paraguay-Paraná waterway. This is one of South America's most important inland transport corridors. Designed for demanding river operations and high utilization rates, the tugs will transport iron ore from the Corumbá region as part of a wider export logistics network.

Crowley has accepted delivery of Venture, a new chartered tug that will provide ship assist and escort operations in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The addition of the vessel expands Crowley’s capability to serve customers calling on the Southern California gateway, where harbor tugs play a critical role in the safe movement of vessels transporting cargo through the ports. Purpose-built at Diversified Marine, Inc. for ship assist and escort operations, the 82-ft., Jones Act compliant Venture is powered by twin Caterpillar 3516 EPA Tier IV-compliant engines generating more than 6…

Sanmar Shipyards has signed a contract with Greek towage operator NEMECA for the construction of a new BOĞAÇAY Class tugboat. The agreement for BOĞAÇAY XCVII was signed in Piraeus, Greece on October 6, 2026, marking a milestone in NEMECA's strategic expansion and fleet modernization in the Mediterranean region.This latest order builds on the strong working relationship established between the two maritime leaders following Sanmar's delivery of GAIA, a RAstar 2900SX Class 82 tons bollard pull escort tug…

Battery manufacturer AYK Energy has announced further growth in the workboat industry after striking its latest deal with Kongsberg Maritime to supply batteries for four new fully electric Svitzer TRAnsverse tugs.The deal builds on five previous Svitzer hybrid electric tug projects AYK has worked on. The vessels are being built at the Cochin Shipyard in India and will see each tug equipped with an ABS-certified 4,838kWh OrionAN+ battery system with an option for four further vessels.AYK’s batteries will integrate into Kongsberg Maritime’s system…

SAAM Towage christened SAAM Petrel in Arica, the first tugboat in SAAM Towage’s Chilean fleet to achieve IMO Tier III certification.The tug is named after the petrel, a seabird native to the local coastline. Designed by Robert Allan and built by the Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey, the vessel is part of SAAM Towage’s regional fleet renewal program.

McAllister Towing received the tug Mary McAllister from Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc. in Maine. Mary McAllister is the sixth in a seven-tug series of American Bureau of Shipping-classed and certified 84-metric-ton bollard pull, low-emission tractor tugs. Mary McAllister is powered by CAT Tier IV engines producing 6,770 horsepower. She is classed with the following certifications and endorsements from ABS: +A-1 Towing, +AMS, Fire Fighting (FiFi 1), Escort, Low Emissions Vessel.

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered NICO, a powerful and versatile new tug designed for both harbour ship-handling and towing operations, to German operator H. Schramm Towage.The latest delivery is the seventh SANMAR-built tug to join the H. Schramm Towage fleet, continuing a relationship between the two companies that dates back to 2005.Known as DELICAY XVIII during construction in Türkiye, the tug has been renamed NICO by H. Schramm Towage and will join the company’s tug fleet, supporting…

New Pacific Industrial (NP) has launched its first shipbuilding program with the construction of two 122-foot American Class tugboats for American Marine Corporation (AMC) at its Vancouver, Washington waterfront facility. Designed by naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten, the vessels also represent American Marine's first new tugboat construction as the company marks 50 years in business.Glosten is providing the vessel design and engineering package based on its CT-120, an oceangoing line-haul tug concept developed for long-distance towing and demanding offshore operations.

Sanmar celebrated the delivery of a second tugboat to Ultratug, a leading operator in the Americas, at a special ceremony held at its Altinova Shipyard on August 11, 2026.The tug, UT AMAZONAS, will operate in Colombia and is the sister vessel to UT PATZCUARO, the first tug that Sanmar built for Ultratug, which was delivered just a few months ago and is now operating in Mexico.Guests of honor from Ultratug Colombia at the ceremony were Silvia Herrera, Country Manager of Ultratug Colombia; Cristian Franco, Fleet and Operations Manager, Colombia; and José Morales, Maintenance Engineer, Colombia.

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered another new Bogaçay Class tugboat to SAAM Towage as part of the operator's ongoing fleet renewal and decarbonization program. It brings the total number of Sanmar-built vessels in the operator's fleet to 17.Named SAAM CARIBE by its new owners, the tug will join SAAM Towage operations at Cartagena, a major port on the northern coast of Colombia. It is the sixth tugboat that Sanmar has delivered to SAAM Towage in under a year.SAAM CARIBE is based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design developed exclusively for Sanmar by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new Bogaçay Class tugboat to SAAM Towage, increasing the number of SANMAR-built vessels operating within the company's fleet to 16.Renamed SAAM HUNABKU, the new tug is based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKIl design developed exclusively for SANMAR by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. Following her handover at Sanmar Shipyards on July 14, 2026, the vessel will begin operations at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. The closing for the sale of SAAM HUNABKU was completed at Sanmar Shipyards…

The Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) has welcomed Arc, a U.S.-based marine technology company developing integrated electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, as the newest member of its global community of maritime battery enablers. Arc designs its battery systems, powertrain, thermal management systems, and software in-house, creating a fully integrated electric propulsion platform. Their vertically integrated approach allows the company to optimize every aspect of vessel performance, from battery management and propulsion control to software and thermal systems.

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.