Sanmar Shipyards has delivered KASTRITSI, its fifth tugboat built for Bulgaria's VTC S.A., extending a 23-year partnership with the Varna Port operator. The delivery was announced in a statement by Sanmar on 30 Oct 2026, with the vessel set to operate at the Port of Varna on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. KASTRITSI is built to the RApport 2500 design developed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. The 25-meter tugboat has a towing capacity of over 50 tons and is fitted with an Azimuth Stern Drive propulsion system, enabling safe operation in narrow port areas and shallow waters while assisting in the berthing and unberthing of large commercial vessels. It also carries a FiFi-1 class fire-fighting system, allowing it to support emergency response operations alongside its port duties. The relationship between Sanmar and VTC dates back to 2003, when the Bulgarian company was founded and Sanmar delivered three twin-screw tugboats, SANMAR XII, SANMAR XIII and SANMAR XIV. A fourth vessel, TICHA, based on the RApport 1600SX design, joined the VTC fleet in 2018. Cem Seven, Chairman of Sanmar Shipyards, described the delivery as a milestone in the long-standing collaboration, while Rosen Chernaev, Executive Director of VTC S.A., said the new tugboat would help meet rising demand for towing services and expand the fleet's operational capacity. VTC operates at the ports of Varna and Balchik, providing berthing, lifting, towing, mooring and emergency response services. The delivery underscores the continued presence of Turkish shipbuilders in the Black Sea port services market.