The retired tugboat Polar King has returned to service after a significant 16-month overhaul. Built in 1974, the vessel was completely stripped and rebuilt with new equipment, including hydraulic systems and updated electronics. With a dedicated team of 60 workers, Polar King is now ready to tow barges across key routes.
PaxOcean Group and ABB have launched Singapore’s first fully electric tug, PXO-ACE-1, enhancing the city-state’s harbor craft electrification efforts. Set for deployment in April 2026, this 50-tonne tug features ABB’s advanced electric propulsion system, aligning with the Maritime and Port Authority’s 2030 sustainability goals for harbor vessels.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal virtually inaugurated India’s first all-electric green tug on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in sustainable maritime operations. Designed for the Deendayal Port Authority, this tugboat is part of the Green Tug Transition Programme, aiming to decarbonize the maritime sector and promote clean energy solutions.
Spanish maritime authorities have initiated efforts to tow the abandoned coastal freighter Marine I, adrift in the Strait of Gibraltar for ten days. The crew of 17 faces dire conditions, lacking essential supplies. A tugboat has been dispatched to ensure the safety of both the ship and its crew.
India’s Knowledge Marine and Engineering Works (KMEW) has secured a 15-year contract valued at INR 3.84 billion with the Visakhapatnam Port Authority. This deal involves the operation of a battery-powered tugboat, emphasizing zero-emission standards. KMEW will manage all aspects of the tugboat’s functionality, enhancing sustainable maritime practices in India.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) have signed a memorandum to collaborate in the tugboat sector, enhancing India’s port operations and promoting eco-friendly maritime services. This partnership will leverage MOL’s expertise in safety and alternative fuel technologies to support India’s Green Tug Transition Program.
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has launched Ten-Oh, Japan’s first hydrogen-powered tugboat. This 38-meter vessel features a BeHydro hydrogen dual-fuel engine, developed for The Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project. With 4,400 horsepower and a high-pressure hydrogen storage system, Ten-Oh aims to revolutionize sustainable maritime operations while ensuring safety with marine fuel backup.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a tugboat near the Kemena River estuary for violating shipping regulations. The vessel, operated by a crew of eight, failed to notify the Registrar of Ships about a captain change, incurring a penalty of RM2,500. Further investigations are underway.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted a tugboat and barge operating illegally in Malaysian waters. Detained were eight crew members, including Malaysians, Myanmar nationals, and Indonesians. Authorities discovered unauthorized cargo and insufficient documentation, underscoring the risks posed by such illegal activities to navigational safety in the region.
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding unveiled Japan’s first tugboat with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine. Featuring high-power output and high-pressure hydrogen gas storage, the vessel aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60%. With the ability to switch to traditional marine fuels in case of hydrogen system failure, the tugboat represents a significant step towards environmental sustainability in maritime transportation.
The world’s first commercial-use ammonia-fueled vessel, Sakigake, completed a successful three-month demonstration voyage in Tokyo Bay. Owned by NYK, it achieved a 95% greenhouse gas emission reduction, showcasing ammonia’s potential as maritime fuel. The 272-ton tug, originally LNG-fueled, marked a milestone in alternative fuel operations in the maritime industry.
A tugboat caught fire on the Delaware River near Pea Patch Island, prompting a distress call from the crew. The four members were rescued by nearby boats as the fire was extinguished. The vessel lost steering due to the engine room fire, but all crew members were unharmed.
A recent incident on the Columbia River involving a tugboat colliding with a bulk liquid transportation pier highlighted the importance of proper vessel monitoring systems. The Coast Guard investigation revealed that the boat operator fell asleep at the wheel, causing significant damage. Recommendations have been issued to prevent similar accidents in the future.
A new multi-purpose tugboat, TITAN, has joined its sister tugboat MORETTO in Rijeka, Croatia. Part of a contract with Scafi, TITAN is based on the RAmparts 2400SX MKII design. With an 80-ton bollard pull, TITAN is the most advanced in Sanmar’s Boğaçay class, enhancing maritime operations in the region.
A tugboat named Navimar 3 has been stranded off Kutubdia Island in Bangladesh for over a year, with a crew of seven seafarers, including an Indian engineer officer, facing abandonment by their employer. This case highlights the ongoing issue of seafarer exploitation and the urgent need for stronger regulations to protect their rights.
