Global Tug Deliveries Reach 177 in the First Half of 2026
Boluda Towage took 16 vessels as Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese yards build for stock
Global demand for harbour tugs has risen on the back of new port development and terminal expansion, prompting owners to modernise fleets and allowing shipyards to hold production capacity high. Tug orders and yard deliveries both increased significantly in the first half of 2026.
A total of 177 port tugs, inland river pushers and inland river tugs were delivered globally in the first half, according to ITS data. That compares with 173 vessels in the first half of 2025 and 169 in the same period of 2024.
Demand for inland tugs has been equally robust, particularly in North America, where several US yards are building such vessels. Hines Furlong Line, Maritime Partners and Southern Devall each added at least two tugs during the half.
Global operators including Boluda Towage and Svitzer buy tugs in bulk to serve multiple markets, deploying vessels according to demand and achieving economies of scale and favourable pricing in the process. Shipyards in China, Turkey and Vietnam are building tugs for inventory, making them available for owners that need rapid delivery.
Of the tugs delivered in the first half, 20 percent came from Chinese yards, mostly for domestic owners renewing fleets at growing domestic ports. Turkey accounted for 17 percent and Vietnam 12 percent, primarily for export markets, while the United States contributed 14 percent and Indonesia 9 percent, mainly for local owners in coastal shipping. Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain and the UAE also delivered multiple tugs.
More than 100 shipowners took delivery of newly built tugs during the half. Boluda Towage and its affiliates received the highest number at 16 vessels, with AD Ports, COSCO Shipping, Damen Marine Services and Fairplay Towage among the other significant additions.
Building for stock is the detail worth noting. It shifts delivery risk from the owner to the yard and compresses lead times, which is what allows a new terminal to secure towage capacity on the timescale that a terminal opening actually runs to.
