Boluda Towage Secures 10-Year Australian Port Deal
Boluda Towage has expanded its footprint in Western Australia after being awarded a 10-year port towage contract to provide harbour towage services at the Port of Bunbury. Awarded by Southern Ports following a competitive tender process, the agreement marks a key step in the global tug operator’s regional growth strategy.
Under the new contract, Boluda Towage will succeed incumbent operator Svitzer Australia when the current arrangement expires in December.
Expansion of Australian Port Services
The Port of Bunbury will become the ninth Australian port serviced by Boluda Towage and its second operational hub in Western Australia, following its entry into the Port of Esperance in 2025. According to Southern Ports Minister Stephen Dawson, Western Australia’s ports are central to the state’s economic performance, with Bunbury facilitating 16.9 million tonnes of trade and hosting 418 vessel visits in the past year alone.
To support tugboat operations and enhance sustainability, Boluda Towage Australia will deploy two new IMO Tier III-compliant tugs to the port. The first tug is scheduled to arrive in December, followed by the second unit in February. Managing Director Ivan Spanjic noted that the introduction of these vessels will deliver higher environmental performance and lower emissions for regional harbour towage.
Fleet Optimization and Strategic Growth
Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks highlighted that Boluda’s global scale and operational backing provide substantial support for planned infrastructure upgrades across the South West region over the coming decade. The contract win builds on Boluda’s ongoing international expansion across maritime logistics, which includes recent acquisitions to expand its towage and short-sea shipping operations worldwide.
For vessel operators, and charterers calling at Western Australian ports, the long-term port towage contract ensures continuity, modern tugboat operations, and upgraded towage infrastructure. The deployment of high-specification, low-emission tugs strengthens operational reliability for commercial shipping while supporting local environmental compliance standards across vital trade corridors.
