SAAM and Schottel reached a global agreement to drive continuous improvement, raise the level of service, and strengthen the operational availability of the tugboat fleet of the leading company in the industry in the Americas.
One of the main pillars of the joint work will be the exploration of predictive maintenance solutions for azimuth systems, incorporating condition-based monitoring initiatives that make it possible to identify the optimal time to intervene on the equipment.
This approach, already used in industries such as aviation and mining, opens new opportunities to anticipate maintenance needs, manage unplanned contingencies, and develop coverage strategies for critical spare parts, reducing response times and strengthening operational continuity.
“The agreement allows us to move toward a more integrated and collaborative relationship with Schottel, focusing on continuous improvement, the availability of our fleet, and the efficiency of our maintenance processes. It is a relevant step to continue strengthening the reliability of our operations and the service we provide to our customers,” said the Fleet and Operations Manager of SAAM Towage, Alentué Pompei.
As part of the implementation, Schottel will assign a fleet manager to coordinate the monitoring of the units, facilitate the exchange of technical information, and support the construction of an integrated database of the equipment installed in the SAAM fleet.
“We are proud to support SAAM in this strategic alliance, creating long-term value through a more integrated and future-oriented maintenance approach. Leveraging innovation and data, we support the continuous development of the SAAM tugboat fleet equipped with Schottel,” indicated Julio Carrasquilla, General Manager of Schottel de Colombia.
Currently, approximately 37% of the company’s azimuth tugboat fleet is equipped with equipment from this supplier. Furthermore, the recent opening of a Schottel workshop in Cartagena (Colombia) reinforces the service and technical support capacity in the region.
