Svitzer has expanded its fleet renewal strategy by signing a contract with Cheoy Lee Shipyards for six additional 29-metre TRAnsverse 2900 tugs, bringing its total global TRAnsverse newbuilds to 24 units. Powered by an 80-tonne bollard pull and designed with biofuel-ready, IMO Tier III, and FiFi1 capabilities, these versatile vessels will be built in Zhuhai, China, with deliveries beginning in early 2028. This ongoing investment in next-generation omni-directional tug technology aims to provide port and terminal operators with greater efficiency, safety, and operational flexibility.
Copenhagen, Denmark | September 8, 2026 – Global towage leader Svitzer has further intensified its fleet modernization strategy, signing a fresh contract with Cheoy Lee Shipyards for the construction of six additional 29-metre TRAnsverse 2900 tugs.
This latest agreement elevates the total number of TRAnsverse 2900 vessels ordered by Svitzer from the Chinese shipbuilder to 14, and brings the company’s grand total of TRAnsverse vessels currently under construction globally to an impressive 24 units. Notably, over three-quarters of all new tugs currently on order for Svitzer are based on the proprietary TRAnsverse design.
Driving Fleet Renewal and Operational Agility
The contract announcement coincides with a critical production milestone: the very first of the initial eight TRA2900 builds at Cheoy Lee is entering its final construction stages in Zhuhai, China, ahead of upcoming sea trials. Deliveries for the newly contracted batch of six vessels are scheduled to commence in early 2028.
According to Svitzer Chief Operating Officer Kasper Karlsen, the ongoing investment underscores the company’s commitment to fleet growth through next-generation architecture.
“As our TRAnsverse fleet expands, we are giving customers greater flexibility to optimise their operations, overcome constraints and improve performance across productivity, safety and sustainability,” Karlsen noted. “We value our longstanding relationship with Cheoy Lee Shipyards and are pleased to build on this collaboration, together, these vessels will support our customers and contribute to more efficient and resilient maritime supply chains around the world.”
Cutting-Edge Design and Environmental Readiness
Engineered to meet modern decarbonization and high-performance demands, the TRAnsverse 2900 class packs heavy-duty capability into a versatile profile:
- Bollard Pull: 80 tonnes
- Environmental & Safety Compliance: IMO Tier III compliant, Firefighting Class 1 (FiFi1) ready, and fully biofuel ready.
- Dimensions: Length overall of 29 meters with a 13.1-meter beam.
- Configurations: The broader TRAnsverse series scales across 26m, 29m, 32m, and 35m options, spanning electric, hybrid, and conventional diesel configurations.
The class features an innovative, omni-directional hull form and propulsion layout, coupled with a patented half-circle towing staple. This configuration generates substantially higher steering and braking forces compared to conventional Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs of a similar size, while achieving optimized fuel consumption.
Versatility for Port and Terminal Operations
Thomas Bangslund, Head of Innovation at Svitzer, emphasized the operational flexibility baked into the 29-metre iteration:
“The 29-metre version of the TRAnsverse tug is a very versatile tug design capable of covering applications from escort towage to harbour towage in the same agile package,” Bangslund stated. “It can perform a wider variety of jobs, do them faster, deliver greater stability, responsiveness to pilot orders and efficiency for port and terminal operations.”
Cheoy Lee Shipyards welcomed the expanded partnership, with Director Ken Lo affirming the yard’s dedication to quality:
“As with all our work, our team will deliver the project in line with our guiding focus on quality, service and reliability.”
With more than 75% of its newbuild pipeline dedicated to the TRAnsverse design across varied sizing and power setups, Svitzer is firmly positioning its global operations around high-efficiency, multi-role marine assets designed to navigate tightening environmental regulations and complex terminal layouts.
Quick Specs: TRAnsverse 2900
- Length Overall: 29 m
- Beam: 13.1 m
- Bollard Pull: 80 TBP
- Displacement (Operational Draft): 699 tonnes
- Displacement (Summer Water Line Draft): 788 tonnes
- Propulsion/Fuel: Conventional diesel, biofuel ready (Final specifications tailored to customer requirements)
About Svitzer
Founded in 1833, Svitzer builds on nearly 200 years of experience, providing port and terminal towage services worldwide. Operating a fleet of 456 vessels, Svitzer serves approximately 2,000 customers in 141 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries, reinforcing its position as a key player in global maritime infrastructure.
Source: Svitzer