Wilson Sons has started operations of its newest tugboat, WS Dorado, at the Ponta da Madeira, Itaqui, and Alumar terminal facilities.
WS Dorado is the fifth in a series of six 2513-class tugboats designed by Dutch Damen Shipyards, featuring advanced sustainable technology to enhance efficiency at Brazilian ports.
Built at Wilson Sons’ shipyards in Guarujá (SP), WS Dorado is set to bolster operations at key terminals in São Luís. The tugboat will support berthing and unberthing operations for large vessels, particularly those exporting iron ore at the Ponta da Madeira Terminal. This terminal, owned by Vale, serves as a crucial gateway for Brazil’s iron ore exports, significantly contributing to international trade with major markets like the US, Europe, and China.
WS Dorado joins an existing fleet of 11 tugboats in the São Luís region. At the Port of Itaqui, it will assist vessels carrying diverse cargo such as diesel, corn, soy, fertilizers, and wood pulp. This port is particularly notable for its liquid bulk handling capabilities, with 8.3 million tonnes processed in 2023.
By the end of July, WS Dorado is expected to enhance operations at three additional ports in Brazil: Salvador (BA), Belém (PA), and Cabedelo (PB). Each new tugboat introduced by Wilson Sons brings a substantial impact, improving operational efficiency and integrating the latest technologies to meet the demands of modern maritime logistics.
“This strategy of allocating and relocating tugs optimises our resources, maximises the impacts, and ensures that all ports under our operation are able to run with maximum efficiency and safety,” said Márcio Castro, Executive Director of the Towage division at Wilson Sons. “If we consider the company’s project of building six new tugboats, all Brazilian ports where we operate are positively impacted by it.”
