Tugs News

The Great Lakes Towing Company held a christening ceremony in Cleveland for its newest tug.The vessel, named Minnesota, was delivered in 2023 as part of a series of 10 new Damen 1907 ICE tugs built by Great Lakes Shipyard, a sister company to the Towing Company—both part of The Great Lakes Group.The 64’x24’x11’ tug is powered by two 1,000-horsepower MTU 8V4000 Tier III diesel engines, and generates over 30-tons of bollard pull. The vessel's propulsion system includes the Canal-Marine-designed Logan FlexaDrive Hybrid power system…

An articulated tug and barge (ATB) hit a known underwater rock near Kodiak, Alaska, last year, leading to a grounding that caused $1.4 million in damages, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday.The Brice Marine-owned and -operated tugboat Cingluku and barge Jungjuk were transiting into Shakmanof Cove from Marmot Bay on May 25, 2023, with six crewmembers onboard. The Cingluku and Jungjuk operated together as an ATB, and were primarily used to transport containerized cargo and vehicles.

Royal Boskalis B.V. on Monday announced it has reached a deal to take full ownership of marine services and towage provider Smit Lamnalco, after another deal for the company to be acquired by Spain’s Boluda Group fell through.Dutch dredging contractor and marine services firm Boskalis, which has held a 50% stake in Smit Lamnalco alongside joint owner Saudi Arabia's the Rezayat Group since 1964, said it signed an agreement to acquire all remaining shares in the company. The companies…

Wilson Sons said it has started operations on WS Dorado at the Ponta da Madeira, Itaqui and Alumar terminals facilities in São Luís, Maranhão.Designed by the Dutch Damen Shipyards, it is the fifth powerful tug with more sustainable technology in a range of six 2513-class tugboats. Built at the company’s shipyards in Guarujá (SP), the new tug will support berthing and unberthing operations in these terminals facilities, attending large ships exporting iron ore, which carry up to 400,000 tons of cargo.WS Dorado joins the company's fleet of 11 tugboats in that region.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) on Monday announced it has been awarded a contract to construct four new escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine's Foss Maritime. The vessels will be built at ESG’s Allanton and Port St. Joe facilities, in Florida, with delivery expected in 2026.The order marks the beginning of Saltchuk Marine’s long-term fleet renewal project, with the new tugs set to support West Coast port operations and comply with EPA Tier 4 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) environmental requirements.The newbuilds will be RApport 2600 ship assist/escort tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd.

New-York-based McAllister Towing on Wednesday announced that officer, director and shareholder Eric McAllister is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.Eric and brother Buckley McAllister, the company’s president, represent the fifth generation of McAllisters to lead the 160-year-old, family-owned marine towing and transportation company—one of the oldest and largest in the U.S.Eric has held several leadership positions through the years, including chief financial…

Crowley on Tuesday christened its new vessel, eWolf, the first all-electric ship assist tugboat in the United States.Set to enter commercial service at the Port of San Diego this week, the 82-foot tug was built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders and designed by Crowley’s engineering services team to operate on full electric power, producing zero carbon emissions and 70-ton bollard pull strength.“The eWolf is a historic milestone in the maritime industry and Crowley’s legacy and underscores our company’s commitment to serve as global sustainability leaders and innovators…

A 67-year-old tugboat being converted to run on Amogy's cleaner-burning ammonia-to-power technology will soon be put to the test in upstate New York.The105-foot tug, originally built in 1957 and recently renamed NH3 Kraken, will be the first vessel globally fitted with the innovative, carbon-free power system, developed by Amogy to reduce emissions from hard to abate sectors such as maritime.The conversion project currently underway at Feeney Shipyard in Kingston, N.Y. involves a comprehensive overhaul of the tugboat's original diesel generators and electric motors…

Vancouver, Wash. based leasing company Tug Construction, LLC announced it is partnering with energy giant BP in a new joint venture offering Jones Act qualified tugboats for bareboat charter. The newly formed entity, Ursa Major Marine Holdings, LLC has acquired a tugboat from Tug Construction and has placed an order for two additional tugs from Portland, Ore. shipbuilder Diversified Marine, Inc.The JV partners describe Ursa Major as a unique partnership that leverages greater collaboration between shipyards…

Speaking at this year’s Drycon conference in Mumbai, Captain Pappu Sastry, CEO of Adhira Shipping and Logistics (ASL), said that Africa’s mining sector is entering a golden age where opportunities are open to investors, shipping lines and logistics companies.Africa is a continent of more than 1.4 billion people, with a mining sector that is growing rapidly and investment opportunities across the continent, said Sastry. “We are experiencing a rapid expansion in the development of junior mines in Africa along with increased demand for commodities from existing mines.

Boluda Towage has added a tug to its fleet in the port of Gibraltar. The vessel, renamed VB Responder during a ceremony on Tuesday, is the company's fifth tug in Gibraltar, a strategic point for maritime transport.The event was attended by the Hon Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo KC MP, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, the President of Boluda Corporación Marítima, Vicente Boluda Fos, Executive Vice President of Boluda Towage, Vicente Boluda Ceballos and the Captain of the Port, John Ghio.Vicente Boluda…

Atlantic Towing, a member of the J.D. Irving family of companies, and Svitzer have made joint investment in the modernization of the Port of Halifax fleet by acquiring two new escort tugboats from the Rastar 3200 series, each boasting an 85-ton bollard pull.The new tugboats were specifically selected to accommodate the expanded volume of operations in the Port of Halifax and ensure Atlantic Towing maintains its role as the premier operator at the port.Currently, three tugs are permanently stationed in Halifax, supplemented by two on-call vessels.

Damen Shipyards has signed a contract with UK’s Portland Harbour Authority (PHA) for the delivery of one of its latest tugs, the Damen ASD Tug 2111.The highly-maneuverable ASD Tug 2111 is 21-metres in length and delivers 50 tonnes of bollard pull.The vessel will be delivered later this year. Damen’s policy of building particular vessel types in anticipation of future orders means that customers of the ASD Tug 2111 can benefit from shortened delivery times.Other innovative features include the location of the winch in the deck house…

The Philippine Navy in May accepted delivery of a pair of new tugs built at Josefa Slipways Inc. in Sual, Philippines.The vessels, YT 027 and AT 010, a RAmparts 2700 and RAmparts 3000-W respectively were designed by Robert Allan Ltd. to the navy’s surface vessel fleet.Propulsion machinery of YT 027 consists of two MTU 12V4000M53 diesel engines rated at 1380 kW at 1800 rpm coupling with Schottel SRP 340 Z-drives with 2.1 m diameter fixed pitch propellers.Propulsion machinery of AT 010 consists of two MTU16V4000M63 diesel engines rated at 1920 kW at 1600 rpm…

Maritime services company Boluda Towage on Wednesday announced it has acquired France-based Les Abeilles International.Les Abeilles provides maritime rescue response services, with coverage along the French and Northern European coasts. Boluda Towage said the acquisition will enhance its capacity to act in case of offshore spills, with highly qualified equipment and state-of-the-art technology. Boluda Towage will also emerge as a new player in the wind energy markets, supporting the construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms.Through the acquisition…

Caterpillar Marine announced plans to deploy its first set of field demonstrator methanol dual-fuel 3500E marine engines in 2026.Cat 3500E marine engines will utilize innovative dual-fuel technology that leverages proven diesel fuel systems and supports vessels’ low-pressure – below 10 bar – fuel systems. The methanol dual-fuel Cat 3500E engine targets the same performance and durability as the current 3500E diesel engine while meeting emission standards and delivering 100% power.Following significant advances in the development of this technology…

Boluda Towage announced it has reached a deal to acquire British company SMS Towage Ltd.The acquisition involves taking over the harbor and offshore towage services and marine operations, together with the management, office staff, crew, and fleet, based in the United Kingdom. SMS is presently operating in the U.K. ports/regions of, Tyne, Tees, Humber, Portsmouth, South Wales and Belfast with a fleet of 20 tugs. According to family-owned Boluda Towage, the addition of SMS will strengthen its position in the U.K.…

CMB.TECH and Damen have signed collaboration agreement for four hydrogen-powered tugs.Built by Damen, the vessels will use CMB.TECH's dual fuel hydrogen technology that will significantly reduce emissions.The agreement was signed on May 23, 2024, the same day the classification society Lloyd’s Register presented CMB.TECH and Damen with an approval in principle (AiP) for the hydrogen solution that will be installed in the tugs.The dual fuel hydrogen ASD Tugs 2812 FF-H2, with 80-tonnes bollard pull…

Members of the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry trade group the American Waterways Operators elected a new slate of leaders last week during the association's Spring Convention and Annual Membership Meeting.Kelly Teichman, Executive Chairman, T&T Marine, was elected Chairman, succeeding outgoing Chairman Rick Iuliucci, Vice President, the Vane Brothers Company.In addition, Patrick Sutton, Chief Operating Officer, American Commercial Barge Line, was elected Vice Chair; and Brian Hughes, Vice President Operations & Sales, Hughes Bros., Inc., was re-elected Treasurer.

A new feeder fleet of two tugs and two barges dedicated to serving a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) from Maersk Supply Service (MSS) has been ordered by Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) to ABS class.The innovative system is designed to deliver components to the construction site, allowing the WTIV to remain on location, promising faster wind farm installations. The WTIV will also be ABS-classed.Designed to serve the U.S. offshore wind market, the novel articulated tug/barge…

The Netherlands based marine towage provider KOTUG announced it has successfully piloted its innovative Tug Drone technology, performing a line transfer using an aerial drone.KOTUG said it worked with another Dutch company, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) experts SKEYE, to perform a line transfer over 400 meters from a tugboat to the helideck of Heerema’s crane vessel Thialf.For serveral years, KOTUG has been exploring the use of aerial drones to improve safety and efficiency, and…

Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine announced it has delivered the MED-A2565 class Robert Allan Ramparts 2500-W design tugboat for Arrendadora Continental, S.A.The newly built tugboat, named Monterrico by its owner, has been delivered to Guatemala and started her duty in supporting Arrendadora Continental’s marine operations. The vessel will support Arrendadora Continental in their horbour operations, working off a forward winch for ship handling, towing, pushing, mooring, firefighting…

Damen Shipyards and SAFEEN Group, part of AD Ports Group, have signed an agreement for the lease and purchase of an all-electric Damen RSD-E Tug 2513.The RSD-E Tug 2513 will be the first fully electric tug to operate in the Middle East, according to Damen.The tug, which is 25 metres in length with bollard pull of 70 tonnes, is capable of manoeuvring even the largest vessels and can undertake two or more assignments before being recharged, which takes two hours.Following the successful launch of the class in August 2022 in the Port of Auckland…