Italian towage operator Rimorchiatori Riuniti, a company under Boluda Towage, has invested nearly €20 million (US$22 million) in two new tugs, VB Marte and VB Insignia, for its fleet in the Port of Genoa.
Both vessels were named at a ceremony in the port on Thursday, October 22.
Rimorchiatori Riuniti Chief Executive Alberto Dellepiane said that the local fleet comprises 13 vessels. He added that further renewal investment is planned, with the company progressively replacing its tugs every two to three years.
VB Marte was delivered in December 2025 following completion in Vietnam. She then sailed to Italy under her own power and had only recently arrived in Genoa at the time of the ceremony.
The tug has a bollard pull of up to 83 tonnes.
She is fitted with an aft winch and crane, a Fifi1 system, and oil spill recovery equipment. Boluda also selected a NOx reduction system for the tug.
VB Insignia was built by Turkey’s Med Marine and has been operating in Genoa for about a year. The ASD tug has a bollard pull of more than 80 tonnes and performs harbour towage, terminal assistance, and escort duties.
She is equipped for work at LNG terminals and has a Fifi1 system and an IMO Tier III-compliant NOx reduction system.
