New towage service conditions at Pasaia: what changes in 2026

Key data

Operators of the towage service at the port of Pasaia have new rules in place as of 25 March 2026. The Resolución de 19 de febrero de 2026 de la Autoridad Portuaria de Pasaia publishes the amendment to the Pliego de Prescripciones Particulares governing this essential service for the safe manoeuvring of vessels in the port.

The towage service is a basic port service: without it, vessels cannot manoeuvre safely within the docks. Any change to its regulatory specifications has direct consequences on the contracts, tariffs and operational obligations of those who provide it.

What does this regulation establish?

The Pliego de Prescripciones Particulares is the document that sets the complete framework under which the port towage service is provided at Pasaia. The published amendment updates three main areas:

• Technical conditions: requirements regarding the material resources and operational capabilities required to provide the service.
• Operational conditions: availability obligations, response times and service delivery procedures.
• Economic conditions: tariff structure applicable to towage operations carried out at the port.

The resolution does not repeal the previous specifications in their entirety, but introduces specific amendments to the current text. Operators must compare the previous text with the new one to identify exactly which articles or conditions have changed. The full text of the amended specifications is available in the BOE under reference BOE-A-2026-6942.

The amended specifications are also relevant to the competitiveness of the port of Pasaia in the context of maritime traffic in the Basque Country, as updated service conditions may influence traffic attraction and the operational efficiency of the port.

Economic and operational impact

The amendment to the specifications may have direct economic consequences for current service operators. The aspects to monitor are:

• Tariff review: if the specifications modify the service pricing structure, operators will need to update their billing models and their contracts with shipowners or maritime agents.
• New contractual obligations: changes to the conditions of the specifications may entail additional investment in technical resources or personnel to meet the new operational requirements.
• Access to the service: companies wishing to compete for the provision of the service in the future must be aware of the new requirements before submitting any offer or application.

The resolution does not specify concrete tariff amounts nor quantify the economic impact of the changes introduced. To assess the real impact, each operator must analyse the full text of the amended specifications in relation to their current activity.

Who is affected?

• Current operators of the towage service at the port of Pasaia: they must verify whether their contracts and resources comply with the new conditions of the specifications.
• Companies wishing to provide the service in the future: the new specifications are the reference framework for any service access process.
• Shipowners and maritime agents operating at Pasaia: they may be indirectly affected if tariffs or service availability conditions change.
• Managers of the Autoridad Portuaria de Pasaia: responsible for verifying compliance with the new conditions by operators.

Practical example

A towage operator currently providing the service at the port of Pasaia under the previous specifications must follow this process after the publication of the amendment:

First, they download the full text of the amended specifications from the BOE (BOE-A-2026-6942) and compare it article by article with the specifications they signed at the time. They identify whether the new technical conditions require, for example, a different minimum power rating for their tugs or new guaranteed response times.

If the economic conditions have changed, they review whether the tariffs currently applied to shipowners remain compliant with the new specifications or whether their service contracts need to be updated. If the new conditions require additional investment in material resources, they must assess the impact on their profit and loss account before the new conditions become enforceable.

What should companies do now?

1. Download the full text of the amended specifications from the BOE (BOE-A-2026-6942) and read it in full, not just the summary of the resolution.
2. Compare the new specifications with the previous ones to identify exactly which technical, operational or economic conditions have changed.
3. Review existing contracts with the Autoridad Portuaria de Pasaia and with service clients to determine whether they need to be updated.
4. Assess whether current technical resources comply with the new requirements of the specifications. If not, plan the necessary investments.
5. Seek advice from legal counsel specialising in port law to correctly interpret the scope of the changes and their contractual implications.
6. Confirm the exact date of entry into force of the new conditions, as the resolution does not specify it explicitly.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-6942