The first electric tug in Latin America, a groundbreaking project resulting from a partnership between SAAM Towage and ENAP, has reached a significant milestone with the completion of sea trials and bollard pull testing in Tuzla Bay, Istanbul. This state-of-the-art vessel, set to operate in Chile, represents a major step forward in the decarbonization of maritime operations in the region.
This process inspects compliance with technical specifications and verifies the static behaviour and performance of the different systems installed, thus guaranteeing safe operations.
“We are pleased and proud of the results obtained during the system commissioning and seaworthiness testing of our electric tug. So far, everything has been well implemented and performed beyond expectations, such as the bollard pull record, where the tug achieved 72 tons of pull. SAAM Towage already has two electric propulsion vessels operating in Canada, making this its third. These vessels will allow us to continue advancing on the path of offering increasingly sustainable services, reducing our CO2 emissions and demonstrating our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said SAAM Towage’s Sustainability and Development Manager, Pablo Cáceres.
ENAP’s Supply Chain corporate manager, Mauricio Naveas, commented, “We continue to monitor how this project, which is so important for the country’s energy and maritime transportation industry, is approaching reality. At ENAP, we seek to be more sustainable and we challenge ourselves to address the energy transition, since it represents a substantial step for Chile. This first electric tug for our territory and all of Latin America is one of the leading initiatives in this context.”
The tug, which will operate for ENAP, is scheduled to arrive in Chile in the first half of 2025. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd and built at Sanmar Shipyards in Turkiye, the vessel will operate in Puerto Chacabuco, in the Aysén Region, providing berthing and unberthing services. Measuring 25 meters long and 13 meters wide (beam), the tug boasts maximum bollard pull of over 70 metric tons.
