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Market analysis: buoyancy in tugboat deliveries, but orders drop
Owners have expanded their tugboat fleets as shipyards continued deliveries during Q1 2026 in what has been a steady start to the year for the towage sector
It has been a good start to the year in terms of tugboat deliveries from shipyards worldwide, but the year to date has been slow on newbuilding orders and first-steel cuttings.
This signifies either that tug owners are holding back investment, or shipyards are reticent about releasing contract details.
Either way, International Tug & Salvage recorded 75 tug deliveries, but only around 31 newbuilding orders in Q1 2026, with information sourced from owners, shipyards, broker reports and newsletters.
The number of tug deliveries in Q1 2026 was lower than the recorded, and subsequently updated, 86 in Q1 2025 and 94 in Q4 2025, but could increase as more information is published later in the year.
International Tug & Salvage has increased its estimate of total tugboat and towboat deliveries in 2025, from 330 in February’s count to 371 by 10 April, as more information is revealed.
Q1 2026 deliveries included four electric-powered tugboats that Sanmar Shipyards built for Turkey state-run Botas and four that Damen Shipyards completed and transported to Europe for Fairplay Towage.
Deliveries also include six tugs built by Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam for Boluda Towage and other tugs and workboats for Leask Marine in the UK, Otto Wulf in Germany, Port of Otago in New Zealand and Western Coast Port Services in Saudi Arabia.
Turkish shipyards delivered multiple tugboats to Boluda Towage in Italy, SAAM Towage in Chile, Tunisia’s Office for Merchant Marine and Ports, CFM Logistics in Mozambique and owners in Turkey.
In Q1 2026, Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard completed 10 tugboats for various Chinese owners, including COSCO Shipping Bulk Cargo Transportation for its operations in Guinea, Taicang Port Changhai Shipping Co and Jiangyin Chengang Tug Shipping Co.
In Indonesia, Karya Teknik Utama Shipyard continued its vessel construction work into 2026, after claiming to have launched 99 tugs in 2025, with five of these delivered to Indonesian owners in Q1.
In the US, Master Boat Builders delivered tugs to Moran Towing and Gulf LNG Tugs of Port Arthur and launched one for Maritime Partners. Shipyards such as C&C Marine & Repair, FMT Shipyard, Verret Shipyard and Vessel Repair supplied new towboats to owners Blessey Marine Service, Canal Barge Co, Echo Towing Services and Maritime Partners.
Of the 30 recorded orders, Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard had the most, due to its transparency on construction milestones, such as first-steel cutting and keel laying.
In 2026, the yard is building azimuth stern drive tugs for Fujian Fuyang Tugboat Co, Huadong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Jiangsu Hengyao Shipping, Jiangyin Chenggang Shipping and Nanjing Port.
Shipbuilding orders in Q1 2026 included 19-m pusher tugs being built by Industria Naval Catarinense in Brazil for state-backed Transpetro and Asenav constructing an escort tug in Chile for SAAM Towage’s operations in British Columbia, Canada.
In the US, Harbor Docking & Towing ordered a tugboat with hybrid propulsion from C&C Marine and Repair, while Guatemala-headquartered Arrendadora Continental ordered a tugboat from Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam for delivery in Q3 2026, after it secured an extension contract from the port authority of Puerto Quetzal to operate an additional vessel.
In Turkey, Sanmar received an order for two RAstar-class escort tugboats from SVS, a Greek joint venture between Vernicos Scafi, Spanopoulos, and Lyboussakis, with deliveries scheduled for September 2026 and Q3 2027.
In Egypt, Misr Tugboats Factory gained a contract from Italian owner, Fratelli Neri, for two Rastar 3200-W design escort tugs for 2026 deliveries.
In India, Polestar Maritime ordered construction of two battery-electric tugboats from Cochin Shipyard and its subsidiary, Udupi Cochin Shipyard, as part of the nation’s drive to construct and operate low-emissions tugs in ports.
In Spain, Armon Shipyards continues its long-term building campaign for the Panama Canal Authority, with one vessel completed in Q1 2026 and another being prepared for sea trials before being mobilised to Panama.
The global orderbook information, collated by BRL Shipping Consultants, stood at 393 at the end of March 2026, slightly down from 397 recorded at the end of 2025, but higher than 379 at the end of March 2025.
Riviera’s 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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