New terminals drive tug fleet expansion

This is epitomised by DP World’s latest container terminal opening in Posorja, Ecuador in October. DP World commenced operations at the 750,000-TEU capacity terminal following a first-phase investment of US$540M.

DP World chairman and chief executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem says it will become a “dynamic business hub for the west coast of South America, following the model that has been tried and tested in Dubai and around the world.” The second phase of construction will include a special economic zone, boost capacity to 1.5M TEU and allow ships of up to 15,000 TEU to berth.

DP World is also expanding in neighbouring Peru, where it has recently purchased a logistics company to supplement its terminal operations at Port of Callao.

In Ecuador, new tugs were added to the nation’s fleet in Q3 2019. DLEN purchased tugs to support Corpetrolsa’s fleet of tankers refuelling in the ports of Esmeraldas and La Libertad. Two azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugboats were acquired from Damen Shipyards to support tankers and other vessels entering these ports.

Damen delivered 24-m Nanda, built to an ASD 2411 design, and 23-m Isabella II, an ASD 2310 design to DLEN. Both tugs were built as part of Damen’s stock in shipyards in China and Vietnam and outfitted in the Netherlands. Isabella II’s arrival in October boosted DLEN’s tug fleet to six.

In Brazil, Wilson Sons group brought a new high-power escort tug into service to boost its ship handling capabilities. This group both built this 32-m seagoing tug and operates it in Brazil.

WS Aries was designed by Damen Shipyards and built by Wilson Sons Estaleiros. It joined the Wilson Sons Rebocadores fleet on 19 July as a similar tug to 2018-built WS Sirius.

Both are the most powerful escort tugs in Brazil providing services at offshore loading and unloading terminals and ports in the nation.

“These tugboats are equipped and certified to escort vessels, which means the towline can be used at cruising speeds,” says Wilson Sons Rebocadores operations director Marcio Castro.

WS Aries has bollard pull of around 90 tonnes, a beam of 12 m and an automatic towing winch system. “This tugboat exceeded 90 tonnes with a render recovery winch, which allows automatic control of maximum pull on the towline while keeping the tow length constant,” says Wilson Sons Estaleiros executive director Adalberto Souza.

“With more technology and power available, the number of options to assist decision making during operations is increased, making it safer,” he explains.

Damen secured business from Chile-headquartered tug owner SAAM in August. Damen is building an ASD 2813 design tug in its Vietnamese yard for SAAM’s operations in Veracruz, Mexico. This tug will have a maximum bollard pull of 85 tonnes and a top speed of 13 knots. It will also have a FiFi1 fire-fighting system as requested by SAAM, when it arrives in Mexico in January 2020.

In June, SAAM purchased a 23-m tug from Turkish shipbuilder and tug owner Med Marine to boost its operations in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.

Saam Itza is a MED-A2360 series tugboat built to a Robert Allan RAmparts 2300-MM design with a bollard pull of 60 tonnes and maximum speed of 12 knots. This 3,530-kW ASD tug assists tankers and ships into Guatemala’s largest Pacific Ocean port for bulk and container cargo.

This expansion in tugboat fleets follows the break-up in Q2 this year of the joint venture SAAM had with Royal Boskalis Westminster, which covered towage operations in the Americas. In a US$201M deal, Boskalis sold its stake in SAAM Smit Towage to the SAAM group. This included the partnership they had for operations in Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Canada.

In Colombia, towage and salvage company Coltugs bought an escort-rated ASD tug from Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine. Caño Cristales was mobilised to Colombia to support larger ships berthing at that nation’s ports. This 32-m tug was built to a Robert Allan Ramparts 3200 design and RINA class. Coltugs is a joint venture between ports and towage company Coremar and tugboat owner Ultratug, which also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.

Canadian operations

Dutch towage group Kotug International demonstrated its intention to enter the North American sector by forming a joint venture with Newfoundland-headquartered Horizon Maritime Services. Together, they will offer terminal and harbour towage services across Canada.

Kotug Canada combines sustainable marine towing with local experience, safety and secure practices for Canadian shipping, says Kotug chief commercial officer Osman Munir. “We continue to expand internationally and look forward to providing sustainable industry-leading equipment and services in Canada.”

Horizon operates a fleet of tugs, barges and workboats from its bases in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. It provides oceangoing and inland waterways towage and operations in some of the harshest environments.

In British Columbia, HaiSea Marine, a joint venture partnership between the Haisla First

Nation and Seaspan secured a long-term contract to provide escort and harbour tugs to support LNG Canada’s export facility in Kitimat. This contract is worth C$500M (US$373M) over 12 years. LNG carriers will require harbour tugs to provide berthing and unberthing assistance in Kitimat. HaiSea Marine will follow this by ordering a fleet of tugs prior to LNG production commencing, which is estimated before mid-2020.