Boluda Towage Norway Adds Tug VB Norwegian Falcon in Norway

Boluda Towage Norway announced the addition of the tug VB Norwegian Falcon, built by Sanmar Shipyards, to its fleet in Norway, according to the company's announcement on October 21 reported by Info Puertos, Portal Portuario and Jornal Portuario. The new unit will reinforce towage, ship assist and offshore support operations in the region.

The vessel was built to the RAstar 3200 SX design, developed by the Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd., with ASD (azimuth stern drive) propulsion. Portal Portuario reported that it has a power output of over 6,700 HP and a bollard pull of 90 tonnes, while Info Puertos described the vessel's combination of power, stability and maneuverability to operate in adverse sea states.

As explained by Robert Allan Ltd. and reported by Info Puertos, the RAstar series uses hull forms with lateral skegs that improve seakeeping and escort towage performance, features tested through both model and full-scale trials. The outlet also noted that the 3200 SX design had previously been delivered in 2020 for two tugs built for Orkney Islands Council Marine Services, also constructed by Sanmar, with a shallower draft than other comparable escort tugs.

Info Puertos noted that the addition comes in the same year the subsidiary adopted the name Boluda Towage Norway, a change announced on January 12, 2026 by a company that began operations in 2005 under the name Stadt Sjøtransport. At that time, the company operated four tugs along the Norwegian coast and in international waters, a figure corresponding to January and not reflecting the current fleet following the new addition. Headquartered in Florø, the subsidiary provides harbor towage, offshore operations, long-distance towing and salvage services.

Portal Portuario stated that the arrival of the VB Norwegian Falcon represents a new step in Boluda Towage's development plan for the Nordic countries, a region it described as key for the group due to its demanding weather conditions and intense port and offshore activity. Jornal Portuario, on the other hand, limited itself to reporting the addition of the tug without referencing that development plan.

Both Info Puertos and Portal Portuario noted that the tug complies with IMO Tier III regulations, which refer to the limits on nitrogen oxide emissions from engines set by the International Maritime Organization under Annex VI of the MARPOL convention. Info Puertos further linked this addition to other recent moves by Boluda in Europe, such as the opening of an office and a training simulator in Antwerp.