Fairplay Towage Orders Six Tugs from Sanmar Shipyards

Hamburg, Germany (Ports Europe) – Fairplay Towage Group has placed a significant order for six new tugboats from Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey. The contracts were signed on September 25, 2026, at FAIRPLAY Towage’s headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. The event was attended by senior representatives from both companies, including SANMAR Vice Chairman and CEO Ali Gürün and Commercial Director Rüçhan Çıvgın, alongside FAIRPLAY Towage Group Managing Directors Philip-Alexander Harmstorf and Holger Schwesig, as well as FAIRPLAY Towage Polska Managing Directors Arkadiusz Ryz and Witold Wojciechowski.

Contract Details and Design

The new tugs will be built to designs by the renowned naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. and will feature advanced environmental and operational standards. According to Marine Link, the order spans three distinct vessel classes to offer FAIRPLAY Towage operational versatility across harbour, escort, and offshore duties. The bollard pull capabilities of the tugs range from 80 to 120 tonnes. The largest vessel in the order will be a RAmpage 4200 offshore tug, with a bollard pull of 120 tonnes, designed for offshore terminal support and ship-assist operations. Additionally, the order includes a RAstar 3200SX terminal tug with a minimum bollard pull of 90 tonnes for escort operations in exposed waters.

Delivery Schedule and Deployment

The deliveries of the new tugs will commence in mid-2027 and continue through 2028, according to Baird Maritime. The first harbour tug is scheduled to enter service in mid-2027, followed by the other three by the end of the same year. The two offshore tugs are expected to be operational during the first half of 2028. These new vessels will serve European ports between Poland and Belgium, as well as the North Sea and projects in Africa and South America. All six tugs will meet IMO Tier III emission standards and will also carry ice-class ratings to ensure safe and effective operations in extreme conditions.

Environmental and Technological Features

The tugs will be equipped with FiFi 1 firefighting capabilities and will feature IMO Tier III-compliant main engine installations to minimize emissions. The vessels will also be designed with ice-class notation, providing resilience in challenging conditions. These features align with FAIRPLAY Towage's commitment to environmental responsibility and operational excellence. As noted by SeaNews Türkiye, the partnership between Sanmar Shipyards and FAIRPLAY Towage Group underscores a strategic alignment to meet the evolving needs of the maritime industry.

Strategic Partnership and Fleet Expansion

The order marks a significant fleet expansion for FAIRPLAY Towage and a strategic return to Sanmar Shipyards for the company, which last collaborated with the Turkish shipyard in 2008. Philip-Alexander Harmstorf, FAIRPLAY Towage Group Managing Director, emphasized the importance of this partnership in a statement: “With the order of two offshore tugs and four harbour tugs, we are making a clear and consistent investment in the future of FAIRPLAY. Our ambition is to provide our customers with the highest levels of performance, reliability, and state-of-the-art technology – not only today, but also in the years ahead.”

What this means for operators

The new tugs will enhance FAIRPLAY Towage’s operational capabilities, ensuring efficient and reliable service across various maritime environments. For ship operators, this partnership provides access to a modern and technologically advanced fleet capable of meeting stringent environmental standards. The strategic alliance between Sanmar Shipyards and FAIRPLAY Towage Group is expected to set a benchmark for future collaborations in the maritime industry, fostering innovation and sustainability in towage services.