Latin America’s first fully electric tugboat has officially set sail from Tuzla, Turkey, on a 45-day journey to Puerto Montt, Chile.
From there, it will continue to Puerto Chacabuco in the Aysén Region, where it will undergo a trial period before beginning operational duties.
Pablo Cáceres, Sustainability and Development Manager at SAAM Towage, highlighted that this electric tug is the third of its kind in the company’s global fleet, but the first in Latin America.
Mauricio Naveas, Enap’s Corporate Supply Chain Manager, emphasized the vessel’s role in the state energy company’s broader environmental efforts.
The tugboat recently completed its final sea trials and is being transported aboard the BBC Olympus, a specialized heavy-lift vessel equipped with two high-capacity cranes.
Once operational, the electric tug will handle berthing and unberthing operations.
The vessel measures 25 meters in length and 13 meters in beam, with a bollard pull exceeding 70 metric tons, while powered entirely by lithium-ion batteries and fueled with renewable energy.
