International Tug & Salvage (ITS) Tug Owner of the Year, Boluda Towage, has launched its global strategy for sustainable growth with a focus on reducing emissions while expanding and modernising its fleet

The Spanish tug owner published its Sustainability Report 2023 at the end of May, in which it reviews its commitment to environmental, social and corporate governance matters and outlines a future strategy.

In 2023, Boluda continued its international expansion and drive for innovation and sustainability, while investing in the continuous renewal of its fleet.

Agreements were made with tug designers and builders for more efficient tugs with lower emissions equipped with technology to decarbonise operations.

Boluda plans to order battery-powered and methanol-fuelled tugs, using its experience of vessels with hybrid propulsion.

“Our fleet is considered to be the most powerful in the sector,” said Boluda, adding it is “a pioneer in terms of safety, efficiency, technical level and customer service quality.”

Boluda also stated it is a “benchmark in sustainable growth” as it is developing “sustainable actions to meet the challenge of decarbonisation in the sector.”

Boluda Towage’s global strategy, involving its whole value chain, is based on three main areas: efficient use of resources; emissions reduction; and growth in local communities.

It is developing a business strategy to reduce consumption and search for alternative fuels to lower its environmental footprint, protect marine life and improve the efficiency of its port operations.

Boluda said 69% of the ports in which its tugs operate are equipped with an onshore power supply (OPS) to connect vessels to a power grid and reduce fuel consumption and noise pollution while they are docked. This has led to Boluda reducing CO2 emissions by 33%.

Another 30% reduction is achieved by vessels using an onboard control module to lower emissions and optimise fuel consumption across the tugboat fleet.

“We are committed to sustainable development as part of our business culture"

Due to the size of the global fleet, Boluda is a major employee and focuses on training its seafarers. It has introduced initiatives aimed at fostering talent in an inclusive and diverse workplace. In 2023, Boluda increased by 12% the number of training actions carried out and by 25% the number of training hours provided, compared with 2022.

It also adopted best practices following the highest standards of business integrity, regulatory compliance, data protection and innovation.

“We are constantly asking ourselves how to improve and this spirit of self-improvement is what drives us to innovate to become pioneers in the sector,” said Boluda Corporación Marítima president Vicente Boluda Fos.

“We are committed to sustainable development as part of our business culture. This is something we carry in our DNA and drives every decision we take concerning our employees, customers, partners and society as a whole.”

Boluda Towage executive vice-president Vicente Boluda Ceballos was presented with the ITS Tug Owner of the Year 2024 award during the ITS Convention and Exhibition in Dubai, on 23 May.

During his acceptance speech, he thanked “all the people who have made possible this important award that I am receiving here today. This award belongs to all of us at Boluda Towage”.

This award was in recognition of Boluda’s fleet renewal investment, sustainability drives, global and regional expansion and introduction of new OPS solutions in ports.

Riviera’s TugTechnology 2025 will be held in Antwerp, Belgium, 20-21 May 2025 providing technical insights to the towage and tug sector. Use this link for more information and to register interest in the conference, exhibition, gala industry dinner and awards

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Vicente Boluda Ceballos receives the ITS Tug Owner of the Year Award (source: Riviera)