A South American tanker owner is about to become a tugboat operator for the first time to reduce costs.
Ecuador-based Corpetrolsa Group, which owns a fleet of tankers between 2,000-7,000 dwt, has ordered three tugs to support its bunkering operations.
It has purchased stan tugs from Damen Shipyards for delivery within two months. This order includes two of Stan Tug 1606 design and one Stan Tug 1205, which were already built and awaiting purchase at Damen Shipyards’ Gorinchem facility in the Netherlands.
Corpetrolsa subsidiary DLEN will operate these tugs in the Ecuadorean ports of Esmeraldas and La Libertad to support bunkering. Corpetrolsa general manager Vicente Bustos said owning these tugs would be cost effective.
“We previously hired tug service providers to manoeuvre our tankers, so this deal will actually save us money in the long term,” he said, adding that these tugs will assist in the modernisation of Ecuadorean maritime operations.
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