Shipyards on three continents secure tugboat newbuilding contracts

Turkish shipyards continued to secure contracts for newbuildings for harbour towage in distant locations in Q4 2025.

Uzmar Shipyard gained an order for a 32-m hybrid advanced Rotortug with around 80 tonnes of bollard pull from Port of Tauranga in New Zealand.

Once delivered in 2027, it will replace the port’s oldest tug, 22-m Sir Robert, which has around 50 tonnes of bollard pull.

Med Marine won a contract from Namibian Ports Authority (NamPort) for a new tractor tug with 80 tonnes of bollard pull, for delivery in 2027.

This will be built to one of Robert Allan’s TRActor designs to join NamPort’s fleet to improve the efficiency, safety and towage capabilities of operations in the Port of Walvis Bay.

In Spain, Gondan secured a contract to build an offshore tugboat with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion from Østensjø Rederi, for delivery in Q1 2028.

This 50-m vessel will have a beam of 17 m, a bollard pull of 150 tonnes, dynamic positioning to DP2, propulsion ready to use methanol fuel when available, and Kongsberg Maritime’s permanent-magnet RIM-drive manoeuvring propellers.

Gondan will build the most powerful tugboat in Østensjø’s fleet using a Skipsteknisk ST-933 design with accommodation for 14 people and deck machinery configured for towing manoeuvres from both the bow and stern using a single high-power combination winch.

Dutch builders

Damen Shipyards won a contract to build two offshore tugs from Chomex Marino at the Albwardy Damen Shipyard in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to support tanker loadings from a Woodside Energy-operated floating production system, offshore Mexico.

These will be built to Damen’s OST 120 design with a beam of 18 m, DP2 class, a bollard pull of 120 tonnes and 250 m² of free deck space.

The shipyard started building a 50-m multipurpose vessel for Netherlands-headquartered owner Herman Senior in October 2025, with delivery planned for Q2 2027.

In January 2026, Damen signed a contract with Qatar Emiri Naval Forces to build two escort tugs to its ASD 3213 design with the first due for delivery later this year and the second in Q2 2027.

Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam is building these 33-m tugs with a 13-m beam, a maximum speed of just over 13 knots, accommodation for 10 crew members and 82 tonnes of bollard pull ahead and 77 tonnes astern.

In the Netherlands, Neptune Marine signed a contract with Van Wijngaarden Marine Services to build a EuroCarrier 2712 vessel with DP1 class, an A frame and delivery in September 2026.

Many of these shipyards will be exhibiting at Riviera’s 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards which 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.