CSL secures order from Polestar Maritime for two 70-ton Bollard Pull Tugs

New Delhi: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), India’s premier shipbuilding and maintenance company, has received a significant order from Polestar Maritime Limited for the construction of two 70-ton Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in May and September 2027, respectively.

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The order, classified as “Notable” in value terms (Rs 100–250 crore), marks a repeat contract from Polestar Maritime, a key player in harbour tug operations, coastal towing, and marine port services. Earlier, the company had ordered three similar tugs from Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (Udupi-CSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of CSL.

The tugs will be built to the specifications of Robert Allan Limited, a globally renowned designer of high-performance tugboats. Both CSL and Udupi-CSL are jointly undertaking the project under a work-share arrangement, furthering the adoption of Approved Standard Tug Design and Specifications (ASTDS) formulated by the Government of India to promote indigenous manufacturing under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.

Each tug will be equipped with twin main engines of 1838 kW and 2.7-meter propellers supplied by Japan’s Niigata IHI Power Systems Co. Ltd., ensuring robust propulsion and maneuverability.

Commenting on the development, CSL's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Madhu Nair said, “CSL is very happy to receive a repeat order from Polestar and is also committed to transforming the industry by introducing Battery Electric Tugs through the upcoming Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) announced by the Government of India.”

With this latest order, CSL Group's order book now includes 18 conventional tugs and 2 green tugs at various stages of construction. The company has already delivered four tugs under the Make in India initiative and continues to play a pivotal role in modernising India’s marine and port infrastructure.

The vessels will be constructed at CSL’s main yard in Cochin, further strengthening the shipyard’s contribution to indigenous maritime capabilities and its strategic partnership with both government and private sector stakeholders.

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