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Chinese shipyards deliver multiple tugs in one month
Several Chinese shipowners, plus two major global operators received newbuild tugboats from shipyards in China in July 2026 after a slowdown in deliveries in Q2 2026 due to project scheduling
Chinese shipyards have started a period of high levels of tug deliveries as multiple newbuilding campaigns start to reach fruition.
Shipbuilders nationwide have delivered at least 10 tugboats in July, with five going to domestic owners to support visiting ships in China’s growing ports, two heading to India, another two to South America and one to the Middle East.
This followed a hiatus in tugboat deliveries in some Chinese shipyards that was due to scheduling of projects, keel laying and vessel launching in H1 2026.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard delivered five azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugboats in July, including Ning Yang Tuo 1, which it built for Yangkou Port and handed over on 25 July.
This 37.5-m vessel has a beam of 4.6 m, total installed power of 2,942 kW, a bollard pull ahead of 51 tonnes and astern of 46 tonnes, a range of 1,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 13.4 knots.
The shipyard launched a sister tug, Ning Yang Tuo 2, for the owner in May 2026.
On 23 July, the shipyard in Jiangsu province completed 2,942-kW tugboat Donghua 5 and delivered it to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.
This 36-m vessel has a beam of 10.4 m, a depth of 4.6 m, a towing capacity of 50 tonnes forward and 45 tonnes astern, a range of 1,200 nautical miles, and a speed of 12.5 knots.
Zhenjiang Shipyard launched another of these tugboats, Donghua 6, in June 2026.
On 15 July, the shipyard delivered ASD harbour tugs Lvsi Gang Tuo 1 and Lvsi Gang Tuo 2 to Nantong Lvsi Port Tugboat Co.
These 40-m vessels have a beam of 12 m, a depth of 5.3 m, a bollard pull ahead of 76 tonnes and astern of 69 tonnes, and a top speed of 13.5 knots.
On 9 July, Zhenjiang Shipyard delivered ASD tugboat Taixing Xiao Tuo 9 to Taixing Port Group Wharf Operation and Management Co.
This 38-m vessel has a beam of 11 m, a depth of 5 m, 4,710 kW of power to generate 82 tonnes of bollard pull and a top speed of 13.5 knots.
The shipyard also launched a 2,060-kW tugboat Bei Bu Wan Tuo 19 that it is building for Beibu Gulf Towing.
In July, Cheoy Lee Shipyards delivered Masirah, a 23-m tugboat it built at the Hin Lee Shipyard in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, for Svitzer to a Robert Allan Ltd RAmparts 2300-CL design.
Svitzer intends to deploy the ASD tugboat to support gas carriers at an LNG terminal in Oman. It has a FiFi1 fire-fighting system and a double-drum winch for ship towing and escort on the forward deck.
There are also unsubstantiated reports from China that Xianli Shipbuilding has delivered two 25.4-m escort tugboats to Boluda Towage for its operations in South America.
According to iMarine and Tugs, Towing & Offshore Newsletter, VB Bohemio and VB Buhonero were built to Robert Allan’s RAmparts 2500-CL design, which is usually exclusive to Cheoy Lee.
These ASD tugs each have a beam of 12 m, a bollard pull of 70 tonnes and a top speed of 12 knots, coming from twin high-speed four-stroke diesel engines turning two Z-drive azimuth thrusters.
Both have started their trans-Pacific voyage to Central America from Chinese and Japanese waters, according to automatic identification system (AIS) data.
In the past two months, Wuxi Hongqi Shipyard completed harbour tugs, Garuda and Varuna, for Greenbay Marine’s port operations in India.
These 495-gt vessels have an overall length of 32 m, a beam of 12 m and a depth of 4 m and are sailing from China to India, via Singapore, under the flag of Tuvalu, according to AIS data.
Riviera will host TUGTECHNOLOGY ‘27 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 19-20 May 2027. Use this link for more information and to register.
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