Enap and SAAM to receive Latin America's first electric tug

Latin America’s first electric tug was launched at the Sanmar shipyard in Tuzla Bay, Turkey and is due to undergo sea trials ahead of delivery to Chile.

The Robert Allan-designed vessel will provide berthing and unberthing services at Puerto Chacabuco in the Aysén Region, as per a service agreement signed in January 2024 between Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (Enap) and SAAM Towage.

Delivery is expected in the first half of 2025 once sea trials verify the tug’s static behaviour and operating performance. The newbuilding measures 25 metres long and 13 metres wide and has a maximum bollard pull of over 70 tonnes.

“This project is relevant for our company not only because it will allow us to meet the service needs of Puerto Chacabuco, but also because it is a step forward in reducing both carbon emissions and environmental and underwater noise in our logistics chain, an effort that is in line with having increasingly sustainable processes,” said Enap corporate supply chain manager, Mauricio Naveas.

SAAM Towage's Sustainability and Development Manager, Pablo Cáceres, said: "This is a key milestone to ensure that the tug operates to the highest safety standards in the subsequent phases of its development. This vessel is the third in our electric fleet, which marks a decisive step into the future with increasingly sustainable operations. At Chacabuco we will be reducing CO2 emissions by 100% compared to current operations."

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