Latin America’s first electric tugboat en route to Chile

Latin America’s first electric tugboat, constructed by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey for Chile’s state-owned company Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (Enap) and harbor towage services provider SAAM, is currently on its way to Chile. After undergoing sea trials and bollard pull testing, the tugboat set off from Tuzla in Turkey to Puerto Montt in Chile aboard a specially-designed vessel, BBC Olympus, equipped with two high-capacity cranes.

The journey to Puerto Montt is expected to take approximately 45 days, following which the tugboat will head to Puerto Chacabuco in the Aysén Region for a dry run period, where it will offer berthing and unberthing services. Designed by Robert Allan, the tug measures 25 meters in length and 13 meters in beam, with a maximum bollard pull exceeding 70 metric tons.

Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the tugboat operates as a 100% electric and zero-emission vessel, utilizing renewable energy sources, as confirmed by SAAM Towage. SAAM Towage’s Sustainability and Development Manager, Pablo Cáceres, expressed enthusiasm about the electric tugboat, emphasizing its significance in the company’s sustainable operations strategy.

Enap’s Corporate Supply Chain Manager, Mauricio Naveas, highlighted the tugboat’s role in environmental protection and decarbonization efforts in Chile, in alignment with the company’s vision for a sustainable future. The collaboration between Enap and SAAM Towage to introduce an electric, emission-free tugboat in Latin America was initiated in early 2024, with the vessel officially launched in December 2024.