A lull in tug newbuilding orders in the last quarter is not expected to last
Last year ended with numerous towage deliveries taking the order backlog of 328 down to 291 tugs, which is still a very healthy orderbook.
It was a quiet market in terms of new contracts in Q4 2019, with only 17 more units ordered –14 harbour tugs, two salvage vessels and a pusher tugboat – resulting in 97 new orders in 2019.
This quiet period is not expected to last and there should be brisk shipyard business in 2020 as changes in port and shipowner towage requirements continue to dictate the pace for new contracts.
There are positive fundamentals. Some of the more recognised towage portfolio builders have work stretching into 2022. New designs centred on power and fuel efficiency are available to handle the ultra-large deepsea tonnage now being contracted.
The structure of the towage industry is changing fast with mergers continuing to rise with consolidation the key consideration. Today, tugs serve hinterlands rather than just single ports.
The volume of towage and escort requirements is increasing, with five tugs often required to handle very large oil and gas carriers, ultra-large container ships and Capesize bulk carriers. There is enormous pressure on ports to provide adequate towage services and demonstrate they can handle the behemoths of today.
Shipowners need to be assured of maximum safety measures when entering and leaving ports and authorities are introducing new berths and deeper water access to accommodate bigger ships with maximum loads.
Some developing countries have attracted trade by improving their ports, making formidable contributions to GDP.
Damen Shipyards established a joint venture with Australia’s Gentium Solutions in Q4 2019 to construct a new shipyard and repair facility in Bangladesh. Initially to construct seagoing vessels for the domestic fleet, the new facility is also likely to build new harbour tugs to handle bigger ships within the Bangladesh hinterland and especially to the two offshore LNG storage and regasification facilities.
In other examples, two of the most successful ports in West Africa are Tema and Takoradi where a dramatic increase in trade for bulk and box traffic has prompted the ordering of two new Robert Allan-designed RAstar 3300 series tugs offering 80 tonnes of bollard pull.
Both will be delivered from Tor Group’s Torgem Shipyard, Turkey, and chartered to Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority with a probable purchase option from 2020. The towage requirements will coincide with new berths being constructed in both ports.
The orders are a boost for Torgem which currently has no orders in hand and was able to offer relatively prompt deliveries in 2020.
Turkish orders
Turkish construction is buoyant with shipyards operated by Bogazici, Med Marine, Sanmar and Uzmar busy working through 2020 deliveries. During Q4 2019, Svitzer selected Med Marine (Eregli Shipyard) for two ice-classed tugs for year-round service in Scandinavia. Both will be built to a new Robert Allan TundRA Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A design with deliveries in December 2020 and April 2021. Seven other Svitzer newbuildings are currently under construction in Turkey, all at Sanmar’s yards.
Marseille-based Compagnie Maritime Chambon selected Bogazici Denizcilik to construct a 50-tonne bollard pull tug. With spare building space, a relatively early delivery date of August 2020 was negotiated with the owner employing this tug in New Caledonia.
Asian builders enjoyed a fruitful 2019 with Chinese and Japanese yards enjoying a steady flow of new tonnage to cope with giant container ships, tankers and LNG carriers.
Although most tugs are ordered with conventional propulsion, there were a few orders with dual-fuel engines and LNG fuel. Kanagawa Shipyard in Japan has produced prototype dual-fuel tugs and now China has equalled the feat.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyards delivered China’s first dual-fuel heavy-duty tug, Yong Gang Xiao, Tuo 60, which will serve Ningbo Zhoushan Port.
Two more similar towing units are under construction by this builder for Tianjin Port Bureau and a further duo for the latter will commission from Sanlin Shipyard in 2020.
Zhenjiang Shipyard continues with one of the largest tugboat newbuilding orders, building a series of tugboats for COSCO Shipping Bulk Transportation for the Guinea Al aluminium bauxite ore mining and transportation project. The next delivery on this project is expected to be Yick Tug 203 later in Q1 2020.
Cheoy Lee is making a determined effort to secure more business from African and Asian owners especially to service ultra large container ships. During Q4 2019 it started constructing four harbour tugs for Tanzanian ports with deliveries scheduled for 2021.
Southern European shipyards also secured contracts in Q4 2019. In Spain SYM Naval secured orders for two harbour tugs to its SYM 007 design for Boluda Towage subsidiary Pontemar. These are being constructed with reduced length and draught to conduct vessel manoeuvring safely in tight waterways in the port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and along the Paraná-Paraguay waterway system.
Armon Shipyards is building two salvage and rescue tugs for the Spanish Government. These vessels will be built to a Salvamar design for emergency response in all sea conditions up to Beaufort 10 and are scheduled for delivery in Q1 2021.
In the US, Seabulk Towing Holdings ordered four harbour tugs with hybrid propulsion from Alabama-based Master Boat Builders. These will have bollard pulls of around 80 tonnes when delivered in 2021/22. Additionally, Maritime Chartering Associates contracted Master Marine to build a harbour tug for 2020 delivery.
Tug orders 2019
Shipbuilder region |
Type |
No |
Asia |
Harbour tug |
11 |
Europe |
Harbour tug |
21 |
Pusher |
1 |
|
Salvage tug |
2 |
|
Far East |
ATB |
4 |
Harbour tug |
38 |
|
Middle East |
Harbour tug |
5 |
Tractor |
1 |
|
North America |
ATB |
2 |
Harbour tug |
10 |
|
Salvage tug |
2 |
|
Total |
97 |
Source: BRL Shipping Consultants
Tug orderbook January 2020 >20 m
Shipbuilder region |
Type |
No |
Africa |
Harbour tug |
1 |
Asia |
Harbour tug |
33 |
Europe |
ATB |
1 |
Harbour tug |
76 |
|
Pusher |
5 |
|
Salvage tug |
6 |
|
Far East |
ATB |
4 |
Harbour tug |
68 |
|
Tug |
6 |
|
Middle East |
Harbour tug |
21 |
Tractor |
5 |
|
Tug |
1 |
|
North America |
ATB |
5 |
Harbour tug |
44 |
|
Salvage tug |
3 |
|
Tractor |
7 |
|
South America |
Harbour tug |
5 |
291 |
Source: BRL Shipping Consultants
For a full list of orderbook data please visit: www.brldata.com
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