Sanmar Expands Digitalisation and AI Drive as Electric Tug Production Scales

Sanmar Shipyards is expanding its use of digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI) and engineering software as the Turkish tugboat builder increases production efficiency and develops increasingly advanced propulsion technologies.

The company, which is celebrating 50 years of tugboat construction in Turkey, operates three shipyards in Tuzla and Altinova and has delivered more than 350 tugboats across six continents. More than 300 of these vessels were built to designs from Robert Allan Ltd.

Digitalisation targets shipyard efficiency

Sanmar is investing in digital tools and AI to improve production planning, engineering, supply-chain management and construction efficiency.

The company is also seeking to increase production capacity, optimise energy consumption during construction and improve the efficiency of its engineering and planning processes.

Sanmar Commercial Director Ruchan Civgin said innovation extends beyond propulsion technology, with digital technologies increasingly being used to improve how vessels are designed and built.

The shipbuilder can currently produce approximately 30 tugboats annually, with customers across Europe, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

From LNG to battery-electric and methanol

Sanmar has developed a track record in alternative propulsion, recording several industry firsts since beginning vessel construction in 1976.

These include:

• 2014: First LNG-fuelled tugboat
• 2017: First remotely operated tugboat
• 2019: First hydro-mechanical hybrid tugboat
• 2022: First fully electric tugboat
• 2026: First dual-fuel methanol escort tugboat

Its portfolio now includes battery-electric, LNG, methanol, biofuel and IMO Tier III-compliant tugboats.

Sanmar said its engineering and production systems allow vessels using different propulsion technologies to be built simultaneously while maintaining common quality and production standards.

Electric tugs move into commercial operations

Sanmar has delivered 14 fully battery-electric tugboats to operators in Turkey, Canada, Chile, Norway and other markets, including Botas, HaiSea Marine, SAAM Towage, Buksér og Berging and Svitzer, as well as its own fleet.

The company is also building another battery-electric tug in Turkey.

All of Sanmar’s electric tugs are based on Robert Allan ElectRA designs and use Corvus Energy battery systems.

According to Sanmar, its electric tug programme has progressed beyond demonstration projects, with vessels now undertaking regular commercial harbour towage operations.

The company’s own ElectRA tug has provided operational data on battery performance and energy management, with more than 75% of manoeuvres completed using battery power alone.

Operator experience feeds vessel development

Sanmar also operates harbour and escort tugs and pilot vessels, allowing the company to gather operational data directly from its own fleet.

Civgin said this operator-builder relationship provides insight into manoeuvring, energy consumption, charging behaviour, maintenance and vessel performance that can subsequently be incorporated into newbuild designs.

The company is continuing to refine its electric tug platforms through improvements in battery integration, energy management, charging capability and operational efficiency. As demand for lower-emission harbour craft increases, Sanmar’s combination of alternative propulsion experience, digital engineering and direct operational feedback is positioning the company to expand electric and other low-emission tug technologies beyond pilot projects and into wider commercial deployment