“Trapananda”, developed by Saam and Enap, is equipped with Corvus Energy batteries
Puerto Chacabuco – The Trapananda, the first electric tugboat in Latin America, has entered service in Puerto Chacabuco, in southern Chile. The project is the result of a collaboration between Saam, the leading tugboat service operator in the Americas, and the state oil company Enap. The 25-meter-long, 13-meter-wide unit, with a bollard pull capacity of 70 tonnes, was designed by Robert Allan Ltd, built by Sanmar Shipyards, and equipped with a lithium-ion battery system supplied by Corvus Energy.
The Trapananda is the third electric tugboat in the Saam fleet, after the two introduced in the port of Vancouver in 2024. According to the company, the new units contribute to the 2030 sustainability strategy, which aims to reduce fleet emissions by 65%.
Battery operations allow for zero emissions, reduced fuel and maintenance costs, and lower noise pollution, benefiting coastal communities and marine wildlife. In Canada, Saam has already recorded a 72% reduction in carbon intensity compared to diesel tugboats, with further improvement expected in the coming years.
Corvus Energy highlighted how the spread of electric tugboats represents a decisive step towards more sustainable ports, while Saam described the arrival of the Trapananda as a breakthrough for the entire South American maritime sector.
