The new vessels will be added to the company's fleet, the largest in Brazil, with 80 tugboats, spread across the Brazilian coast.
“The new series will contribute to the renewal of the fleet and facilitate support for large ships that will stop over the next few years at Brazilian ports. We will also be prepared for business opportunities in the oil and gas industry, such as LNG operations and dedicated terminals,” said Rodrigo Bastos, director of the tugboat business unit at Wilson Sons.
The project will be in partnership with Damen Shipyards, Wilson Sons partner for over 25 years, and will bring some innovations.
The tugboats will have 80 tonnes of static traction (dwt), 25 metres long and 13 metres of beam, with Escort Tug class notation. “This new model has the most modern equipment available on the market and guarantees a high of security for port manoeuvres,” explained Wilson Sons shipyards executive director Adalberto Souza.
Another innovation is the IMO Tier III certification that attests to the elimination of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). “Tier III is a great advantage of this project which, although not required in Brazil, shows how much we are at the forefront of the Brazilian naval industry,” highlighted Souza.
The first tugboat is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022, and a new vessel is expected to be completed every four months until 2024. “We are very optimistic about this project, which represents a boost for shipbuilding,” commented Souza.
