Portsmouth International Port has appointed SMS Towage to provide a dedicated towage service for commercial ships in the southern English port.
Under the arrangement, two azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tugboats Irishman and Guardsman are on standby and available to ships for ship handling and towage services with as little as an hour's notice.
Both have 40 tonnes of bollard pull.
Portsmouth International Port's harbour master Rupert Taylor said the move was designed to attract new industries to the port.