Latest Escort tug order strengthens the long-term partnership between SAAM Towage and ASENAV
Chile-headquartered towage operator SAAM Towage has announced the construction of a new state-of-the-art tug at ASENAV, reinforcing its commitment to Chile’s domestic shipbuilding industry and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two companies.
The newbuild follows an earlier tug order placed this year and forms part of SAAM Towage’s ongoing fleet modernisation programme aimed at enhancing operational capability and environmental performance across its regional operations.
The vessel is a 32-meter-long Robert Allan RAstar 3200W design with a bollard pull of over 80 tons. Its propulsion engines feature an emissions control system compliant with IMO Tier III environmental regulations, FF1 firefighting certification and Escort Tug certification, characterised by its high indirect bollard pull capacity at speeds of up to 10 knots. In addition, it will have safety equipment for operations at specialised LNG terminals.
This tug, along with the first one commissioned from Asenav, will bolster SAAM Towage’s fleet in Canada, a high-growth market committed to sustainability.
“This project not only allows us to continue building a modern, efficient and sustainable fleet capable of serving the most demanding markets, but it also demonstrates that decentralisation and local talent are key drivers in establishing our global leadership. We currently operate in twelve countries in the Americas, and our goal is to continue growing,” said SAAM’s CEO, Hernán Gómez.
ASENAV CEO Fernando Rodríguez noted that “this partnership reflects a shared long-term vision to strengthen the capabilities of the Chilean shipbuilding industry and move toward a more competitive maritime ecosystem. For this reason, initiatives such as the National Shipbuilding Policy and AFIDE serve as strategic tools for driving the sector’s development. The ongoing nature of joint projects demonstrates that, when private sector actors collaborate with a focus on innovation and national development, it is possible to achieve concrete results that have a significant impact on our country and its maritime industry.”
The executive also noted that the shipyard’s Project 196 is a speculative build that forms part of the company’s strategy to respond more nimbly to opportunities in the global market. “Having a unit in an advanced stage of construction allows us to offer immediate solutions to harbour operators in the Americas, Europe or Asia who need to expand their operational capacity on short notice,” he said.
With this second vessel, SAAM Towage and ASENAV are highlighting the importance of decentralisation, local development and the capabilities of the Chilean shipbuilding industry, thereby strengthening an enterprise reaching the world from Valdivia.
