Asian shipyards dominate 2025 tugboat construction as demand rises

In China, Damen is one of the main tug builders with ASD tugs joining Boluda’s fleet in Panama, WUŻ Port & Maritime’s operations in Poland and Portland Port in the UK. 

In Q2 2025, the Port Authority of Douala, Cameroon welcomed Damen-built Emmanuel bela Lifafe Endeley and John Ngu Foncha.  

Cheoy Lee Shipyards also builds tugs for export in China, with many of its 2025 newbuilds entering service in Singapore and other southeast Asian ports, and in Latin America.

PSA Marine was the main recipient of Cheoy Lee newbuildings, and has started operating PSA Achieve, PSA Lyra, PSA Pisces, PSA Success and PSA Unity in Singapore and Isla Carenero and Isla Parida in Panama in 2025. 

Also in Singapore, KST Maritime took delivery of Cheoy Lee-built SA Pride and SA Unity. TSC Marine, a joint venture between PSA Marine and NFC Co, continued its fleet expansion in Thailand by welcoming RS Nanont, RS Nata and RS Winter tugs from Cheoy Lee. 

In China, Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyards is a major builder of tugs for the domestic market, often constructing multiple vessels at a time for various ports.

In 2025, it built Da Hang Tuo 10 and Da Hang Tuo 11 for Cangzhou Port; Guotou Xiagang Tuo 8 and Guotou Xiagang Tuo 18 for Guotou Xiagang Hainan Tugboat Co; Hua Xi Tuo 7 for Jiangyin Chengang Tug Shipping; and Jia Gang Tuo 17 and Jia Gang Tuo 18 for Zhejiang Jiagang Tugboat. 

It also built Jin Gang Tuo 01 for Nantong Jingang Tug; Qing Dian Tuo 1 for Qingdao Port; Xin Shi Dai 18 and Yang Zi Tuo 8 for Jiangyin Chengang Tug Shipping; Yan Tian Tuo for Shenzhen Huazhou Ocean Development; and Zhang Gang 5001 for Zhang Jia Gang. 

Jiangsu Zhenjiang is also building several tugboats and lift vessels for COSCO Shipping Bulk Cargo Transportation to support its export of bauxite from Guinea in West Africa. 

Other Chinese shipyards were active in the domestic market with Rizhao Gangda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry building Ri Gang Tuo 32 and Ri Gang Tuo 33 for Rizhao Port; Fuzhou Xingshun Shipbuilding constructing Sea Cod for Qingdao Bohwa Shipping.

Lianyungang Hongyun Industry delivered battery-electric tugboat Siugang Dian Tuo 01 to Guangzhou Port; and Fujian Baozhong Ocean Engineering building Shun Da Tou Yi for Rongchuangda Trading. 

Southeast Asia shipyards 

In Indonesia, Dumas Shipyard in Surabaya built two tug and mooring boats, Amman Khatulistiwa 01 and Amman Khatulistiwa 02, for mining group Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara to Robert Allan’s RAmbler 1400 design.

These 14-m vessels operate in Benete in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, towing and pushing LNG carriers and offering oil spill response. 

Karya Teknik Utama (KTU) Shipyard ramped up production of tugboats and barges in Indonesia in 2025, using various designs including some from Robert Allan Ltd.

Although it does not always name the owner, several are for its associate Karya Pacific Shipping, including 27-m Karya Pacific 2289 and Karya Pacific 2290.  

In September, KTU delivered 27-m tugboat Sarah 1 and barge Kumala 3001 to Pelayaran Nasional Lautan Kumala at a ceremony in Batam.

KTU also handed over 27-m tug Zahran 88 and 100-m barge Mahalona 3301 to an unnamed Indonesian owner.  

In Q3 2025, KTU built Pegasus 578 and launched Pegasus 678 in Marunda to Robert Allan’s TRA2700 design; completed Giat Aktif 2004 and Emperor 3 for unnamed owners; while Perkasa took delivery of Bintang 17; Jhonlin Marine Transport welcomed Samson 3 from the shipbuilder; and KTU delivered Wijaya Trans 33 to Sinar Wijaya Transport.

KTU deliveries in October and November 2025 included Cavalo Marinho 18 and RIC 01 to unnamed owners. 

Sinarmas LDA Maritime (SLM) is growing its fleet of tugboats and barges in Indonesia with several delivered from Tuong Aik Shipyard in Sibu, Malaysia, which built six twin-screw tugboats with onboard power of 1,790 kW.  

Deliveries of SLM Herakles-series tugs started in July 2025 and SLM Apollo-series tugboats in Q4 2024.

Of the latest completions, SLM took delivery of SLM Herakles 5 on 25 September followed by SLM Herakles 6 and SLM Apollo 3 on 2 October and SLM Apollo 5 and SLM Herakles 5 on 14 October. 

Also in Malaysia, shipyards continued producing tugboats for Winning Logistics Africa’s Winning Pioneer fleets supporting ore export and transhipment from Guinea, with around 10 delivered in 2025 by Eastern Marine Shipbuilding, Hung Seng Shipbuilding, Sapor Shipbuilding Industries and Sapangar Shipyard.  

In Malaysia, Forward Marine completed Kingston 565 for Pelayaran Mitra Kaltim Samudera; Tuong Aik Shipyard delivered Garuda Jaya 44 to Garuda Jaya Samudera; Rajang Maju Marine delivered five Tanjung Bahari-series tugboats to Pelayaran Tanjungbahari Perkasa, Mitra-series tugs to Pelayaran Aneka Atlanticindo Nidyatama, and Toga 28 and Tristan 28 to Trois Marine; and TAS Group built six tugs for unnamed Indonesian owners. 

East Asia 

In South Korea, shipyards completed battery-electric tugs as the nation strives to reduce emissions in ports. Meanwhile, Geungang Shipbuilding Industry built two diesel-powered tugs, Cheongmok 5 and Cheongmok 7, for Blue Marine; and Namyang Shipbuilding delivered Tae Baek to Yeongwoon Maritime. 

In Japan, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding completed the nation’s first hydrogen and hybrid-electric tugboat Ten-OH in Q3 2025; while Kanagawa Zosen completed Fuji Maru and Futaba Maru for Fukushima Kisen and Mutsu Maru for Far East Towing. 

In India, tug construction will be ramping up in 2026 as more shipyards enter this market. In 2025, San Marine built Sarovar and Sonalika for an unnamed owner; and Titagarh Rail Systems delivered Sabal to the Indian Navy. In October, Udupi Cochin Shipyard launched the first of three 33-m ASD tugs it is building for Ocean Sparkle.