New maximum towing rates at Gijón Port 2026: costs for shipping companies and consignees

Key data

Shipping companies, consignees and logistics operators using Gijón Port face a direct change in their operating costs: the Port Authority has updated maximum rates for the port towing service through the Resolution of March 13, 2026, published in the BOE on April 9, 2026. Towing is a mandatory service in most vessel entry and exit maneuvers, so this update directly impacts the cost of each call.

The resolution sets the ceilings that service providers can charge, which determines the negotiation margin between towing operators, shipping companies and consignees. If your company manages calls at Gijón, this regulation affects your port cost budgets.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the review of maximum rates applicable to the port towing service at Gijón Port. This service consists of assistance from specialized vessels to guide, push or maneuver ships during their berthing, unberthing and movement operations within the port area.

The key points established by the regulation are:

• The published rates have binding character as a maximum ceiling: no towing operator can invoice above these amounts.
• Towing service providers are obligated to adjust their commercial rates to the new approved maximums.
• The measure seeks to balance the economic sustainability of the service with the competitiveness of Gijón Port.
• The specific amounts for each rate are included in the full text of the resolution published in the BOE.

The regulation does not specify the exact effective date in its publication, so it is recommended to consult the full text of the resolution to confirm when the new amounts are applicable.

Economic and operational impact

The towing service represents one of the most relevant fixed costs in a vessel's call budget. Its use is mandatory for most vessels operating in commercial ports, which means that any tariff variation has a direct and recurring impact on the profit and loss statement of shipping companies and consignees.

The main economic and operational consequences of this update are:

• Call cost review: Consignees will need to recalculate the call budgets they offer to their shipping company clients to reflect the new maximum rates.
• Contract renegotiation: Existing towing service provision contracts must be verified to check if they are within the new established ceilings.
• Route and call planning: Shipping companies that include Gijón in their routes must update their port cost models to reflect the impact of the new rate on the profitability of each call.
• Port competitiveness: The Port Authority justifies the measure as an instrument to maintain the balance between service viability and port competitiveness against other ports in the Atlantic arc.

Who does it affect?

This resolution directly affects three types of operators at Gijón Port:

• Shipping companies: All companies operating vessels with calls at Gijón Port, whether in cargo, solid or liquid bulk, or container traffic. The cost of towing is part of their call costs and affects the profitability of each voyage.
• Consignees: Consignee companies that represent shipowners at the port and manage calls on behalf of shipping companies. They are usually the ones who contract and pay for the towing service, later passing it on to the shipowner.
• Towing service operators: Companies providing the towing service at Gijón Port, which are obligated to adapt their commercial rates to not exceed the new maximums established by the Port Authority.

Indirectly, it may also affect logistics operators and shippers who use Gijón Port as a point of entry or exit for goods, to the extent that port costs are passed on to the freight price or logistics service.

Practical example

A consignee that regularly manages the call of a bulk carrier at Gijón Port includes the cost of the towing service as a fixed item in its call budget. With the entry into force of the new maximum rates, this consignee must:

1. Request from the towing operator the updated rate according to the new maximums approved by the Port Authority.
2. Review the call budget agreed with the shipping company to reflect the new towing amount.
3. If the new maximum rate represents an increase compared to the rate previously applied by the towing operator, communicate it to the shipowner before the next call to avoid discrepancies in settlement.

This process is especially relevant for consignees with a high volume of calls at Gijón, as the cumulative impact of the tariff variation can be significant in the annual calculation of managed costs.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of the resolution in the BOE to learn the specific amounts of the new maximum rates and the exact effective date.
2. Contact your usual towing operator at Gijón Port to confirm what rate will be applied from the effective date of the resolution.
3. Review current call budgets and update towing items to reflect the new amounts before the next scheduled call at Gijón.
4. Verify existing contracts with towing service providers to check if they include tariff review clauses linked to Port Authority updates.
5. Communicate the impact to shipowners or shipping company clients with sufficient notice to avoid discrepancies in call settlement and maintain transparency in port cost management.