The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has formalized a **strategic decision** of significant importance for the logistics of the province. In the session held on March 26, 2026, the **periodic non-predetermined review** of the maximum tariffs for the provision of port towing services was officially approved: an adjustment of **5.23% on the current amounts** to date. The **displacement of a tugboat from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Santa Cruz de La Palma incurs an additional cost** of 10,588.51 euros. 1,054.28 euros is the cost per hour for escorting.
Specific services such as **pushing or the so-called ‘ramming’ of already docked ships**, as well as the mere availability of equipment, will now be billed based on time. The regulations not only govern the direct **driving force** but also specify the costs of essential auxiliary operations for safe navigation. The escort service, where the tug remains alongside the vessel without applying constant tension but ready to act, is charged at 50% of the corresponding maximum tariff. Furthermore, to encourage this type of **preventive service**, the GT handled under this modality only counts for 50% for future reviews of the applicable rate. The set price is **1,054.28 euros per hour or part thereof**. This same amount applies to the ‘special services’ defined in the glossary of the tender, whose typical duration is estimated at **sixty minutes, calculated from when the tug positions itself alongside the vessel until it receives the order to end the maneuver**.
One of the most critical points of the resolution is the regulation of **transport costs between the different islands** of the province. Since the main base of the tugboat fleet is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, moving to peripheral ports generates extraordinary costs for fuel and personnel.
From Santa Cruz de Tenerife: The **transfers to Los Cristianos or San Sebastián de La Gomera have a surcharge of 5,995.35 euros for a round trip**. If the destination is the port of **La Estaca in El Hierro, the surcharge rises to 10,613.10 euros**. The geographical proximity of Granadilla to the south of the island allows these surcharges to be reduced to **3,831.73 euros for La Gomera/Los Cristianos and 7,911.79 euros for El Hierro**. The displacement of a tugboat from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Santa Cruz de La Palma incurs an additional cost of **10,588.51 euros**.
A detailed structure based on the **gross tonnage of the vessels**, technically known as Gross Tonnage (GT), has been established. The rate consists of a fixed part per maneuver and a variable part that is calculated for each unit of GT. For the year 2026, the application of the rate schedule called T+2 has been established, reflecting the projected accumulated tonnage scenario for the fiscal year.
In the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a clear geographical differentiation is observed between the area of La Hondura (of an industrial and petroleum nature) and the Commercial Zone or Granadilla Dock. For example, a small vessel, located in the **range of 0 to 1,000 GT, will face a fixed part of 603.28 euros in La Hondura**, while **in the Commercial Zone this amount is reduced to 461.54 euros**. As the size of the vessel increases, the progression of the rate is notable to cover the need for tugs with greater static pulling power (bollard pull).
For large ships exceeding 100,000 GT, the fixed part in the **La Hondura area reaches 11,026.61 euros**, with a variable coefficient of 0.37156. In contrast, the same category of ship in the Commercial Zone of the capital or in Granadilla maintains a much lower fixed part of **1,870.76 euros**, offset by a variable part of 0.15789. This structure aims to encourage **efficiency in commercial areas while ensuring coverage of risks and costs at refined products and fuels terminals**.
