Driven by the development of new ports and the expansion of existing terminals, the global market demand for harbor tugs has risen, prompting shipowners to modernize their fleets and enabling shipyards to maintain high production capacity; consequently, the volume of tug orders and shipyard deliveries saw a significant increase in the first half of 2026.
Demand for inland tugs has been equally robust, particularly in North America, where multiple U.S. shipyards are constructing such vessels for various owners. Hines Furlong Line, Maritime Partners, and Southern Devall each added at least two tugs to their fleets during the first half of 2026.
Global operators such as Boluda Towage and Svitzer purchase tugs in bulk to meet the needs of various markets and deploy the vessels according to demand, thereby achieving economies of scale and favorable pricing. Shipyards in China, Turkey, and Vietnam are building tugs for inventory, making them readily available for sale to shipowners requiring rapid delivery.
Market optimism has driven steady growth in tug transactions and order volumes from shipyards around the world. According to ITS data summary, in the first half of 2026, a total of 177 port tugs, inland river pushers and inland river tugs were delivered globally. For comparison, 173 ships were delivered in the first half of 2025 and 169 ships in the first half of 2024.
Of the tugs delivered in the first half of 2026, 20% came from Chinese shipyards—mostly for domestic owners to renew fleets at growing domestic ports; 17% from Turkey and 12% from Vietnam, primarily for export markets; and 14% from the United States and 9% from Indonesia, mainly for local owners operating in coastal shipping markets. Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UAE also delivered multiple tugs.
In the first half of 2026, over 100 shipowners took delivery of newly built tugs; Boluda Towage and its affiliates received the highest number, totaling 16 vessels. Other shipowners adding significant numbers of tugs to their fleets included AD Ports, COSCO SHIPPING, Damen Marine Services, Fairplay Towage, Gulf LNG Tugs, the Panama Canal Authority, PSA Marine, Svitzer, the Tunisian Office of Merchant Marine and Ports (OMMP), and Winning Logistics.
According to data compiled by ITS, shipyards worldwide secured orders for at least 105 tugboats in the first half of 2026. BRL Shipping Consultants reported that the global orderbook for tugboats of all types stood at 421 vessels at the end of June—up from 397 at the beginning of the year—indicating rising demand for new tugboats in 2026.