SAAM Towage has purchased another new tugboat from Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar as it seeks to modernise its fleet in Latin America with lower-emissions vessels
Sanmar Shipyards has delivered SAAM Condor to the world’s third-largest tugboat operator. This was built as Bogacay L, then purchased and renamed SAAM Condor by SAAM Towage, which intends to operate the 24-m tug in Peru.
Sanmar built this tugboat to a Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) RAmparts 2400SX design with a bollard pull of 70 tonnes. It is the fifth tug built to this design SAAM Towage has purchased from Sanmar, as SAAM Condor is a sister vessel to Halcon III, which started operating in Chile in Q1 2022.
It is also a sister to Albatros, operating in Peru since 2021, SAAM Palenque, operating in Panama in 2021 and SAAM Valparaiso, working in Panama since 2020.
These tugs have Caterpillar main engines driving Kongsberg azimuth thrusters for 70 tonnes of bollard pull.
Sanmar said its Bogacay-class tugs are “widely acclaimed for their performance, particularly for their manoeuvring, seakeeping and stability.”
They are designed with low manning in mind and “have a high standard of machinery automation which also contributes to their overall efficiency,” the shipbuilder said.
Sanmar Shipyards commercial director Ruchan Civgin said SAAM Towage selected Sanmar to “provide the powerful and technologically advanced tugs it needs to carry out its work efficiently with the minimal amount of environmental impact.”
Sanmar also delivered a Bigacay-class tugboat to SAAM Towage in May for operations in Chile. This 29-m tugboat, renamed Mataquito II, was built to RAL RAstar 2900SX design with twin azimuth Z-drives on the stern.
“Taking delivery of six tugs in just two years is a major investment by SAAM Towage, and we at Sanmar stepped up to the mark in helping it expand its fleet with powerful, yet sustainable and environmentally aware modern tugs,” said Mr Civgin.
“Sustainability is, quite rightly, an increasingly important factor when operators are deciding where to place their orders,” he continued. “With a third purpose-built shipyard coming on board soon, we are confident we can continue to lead the way to a low-emissions future for our industry.”
