Polestar grows Indian tugboat fleet with newbuilds 

Polestar Maritime has ordered two newbuild harbour tugs from Indian shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) as it expands its Indian operations.

The shipbuilder will construct two tugboats to Robert Allan Ltd designs which comply with the Indian government’s approved standard tug design and specifications (ASTDS) for delivery in 2026.

These vessels will be propelled by two Niigata engines, each rated at 1,838 kW, and two azimuth thrusters with 2.7-m propellers supplied by Japan’s IHI Power Systems, to generate 70 tonnes of bollard pull.

They will be jointly constructed by CSL and its subsidiary Udupi-CSL under a work-sharing agreement, with main works undertaken in CSL’s yard in Cochin, India.

This new order is in addition to a contract Udupi-CSL won earlier this year from Polestar Maritime to build three harbour tugs, also with 70 tonnes of bollard pull, Robert Allan design and ASTDS compliance.

All newbuild orders have come under a government-backed programme to support tug construction in India.

CSL Group has delivered four tugs under the Make in India initiative, and with this latest Polestar contract, the present orderbook includes 18 tugs and two low-emissions tugboats, which are in various stages of construction. 

CSL said it is committed to transforming the industry by introducing the battery-electric tugs through the upcoming Indian government-backed green tug transition programme.