Med Marine built Med Gemlik to a RAstar 3200-W design for its Yakamoz joint venture (source: Med Marine)
12 Nov 2026by Martyn Wingrove
Med Marine delivered four Robert Allan designed tugs to its joint venture with Marin Tug to support ships calling at growing Turkish ports as investment increases in the country’s maritime sector and harbours
Yakamoz Tugboat Services, a joint venture between Med Marine and Marin Tug, took delivery of four newbuild harbour tugboats in Turkey in Q3 2026, after it started multiple service contracts in ports in the country.
Med Marine built these vessels at its shipyard in Eregli on Turkey’s Black Sea coast using Robert Allan Ltd’s RAmparts 2500-W naval architecture and towage requirements in the ports.
Yakamoz commenced tugboat operations in Ceyhan, İskenderun and the Aliağa 1 service area in July and then in Gemlik and the Aliağa 2 service area in September, after gaining contracts from Turkey’s General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, which followed tendering processes.
Med Marine delivered MED Ceyhan and MED Iskenderun to Yakamoz in August; Med Aliaga and Med Gemlik followed in September.
These 25.4-m tugboats have a beam of 12.4 m, a depth of 4.6 m, a top speed of 12 knots and accommodation for eight crew members.
Their propulsion systems incorporate two high-speed four-stroke diesel engines driving two azimuth thrusters on the stern, delivering a bollard pull ranging from 65 to 80 tonnes.
They are designed to undertake a wide range of harbour operations including ship escort, towing, manoeuvring, berthing and undocking at Turkish ports, which are expanding to increase capacities for various imports and exports.
They are also ready to assist in maritime emergencies as they have FiFi1-class off-ship firefighting capabilities and can be equipped for seafarer rescue and oil-spill response.
“Their propulsion arrangement has been developed to translate engine power into reliable bollard pull while maintaining the agility required for precise manoeuvring in demanding marine environments,” said Med Marine.
Med Ceyhan is working in the Aliağa operational areas, north of Izmir, Med Gemlik and Med Aliaga are in Gemlik and MED İskenderun has been assigned to support ships in the İskenderun Gulf, according to automatic identification system (AIS) data.
More newbuild tugs are likely to be coming in 2027 as Med Marine said it is continuing to contribute to the development of the Yakamoz fleet through its shipbuilding capabilities and experience in tugboat operations.
Yakamoz operates a 46-vessel fleet comprising 32 tugboats and 14 mooring boats, providing tugboat and mooring services in five port areas across Turkey.
Aliağa is one of the largest industrial port areas in the Aegean region, with a cluster of petrochemical, steel and container plants and terminals.
The İskenderun Gulf operational area is in the Hatay province of Turkey, with a multipurpose port able to handle breakbulk, dry bulk, roro and passenger ships, and with offshore facilities handling tankers. Gemlik Port is in the Bursa district, on the Sea of Marmara and south of Istanbul.
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