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24 Feb 2026
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South American owners extend tugboat fleets through investment
Several newbuild tugs joined owners’ fleets in Latin America in Q4 2025, as new ports are developed and larger container ships are expected to visit the region’s terminals.
South American owners stepped up investments in their tugboat fleets and welcomed newbuilds in harbours and terminals in Latin America in Q4 2025.
Their capital expenditures continue into 2026 with shipyards in the region expected to complete new tugboats during the next six months.
Near the end of 2025, Ultratug added a new tugboat to its fleet in Mexico and supported operational trials at a new port in Colombia.
The subsidiary of Chile-headquartered Ultranav welcomed UT Patzcuaro at Mexico’s biggest terminal in Lazaro Cardenas Port to assist container ships after its construction by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey.
The 24-m harbour tug, initially named Bogacay LXXIX, was built to Robert Allan Ltd’s RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design with a 12-m beam, 4.5 m depth and 5.5 m navigational draught.
It has a bollard pull of 75 tonnes, two Caterpillar-manufactured Cat 3516E main engines, each producing 2,200 kW at 1,600 rpm, connected to a Caterpillar SCR exhaust aftertreatment system, which removes NOx to comply with IMO Tier III emissions standards.
It also has a FiFi1 off-ship firefighting system and accommodation for up to eight crew members.
Sanmar is building a sister tugboat for Ultratug’s fleet in Colombia, where the owner is involved in operational trials at the new Puerto Antioquia in the Gulf of Uraba.
This is being developed by Puerto Bahia, Colombia, to serve container ships of up to 366 m, reefers and general cargo ships.
In January 2026, Ultratug vessels Mrs Doroty and RM Gaira assisted in trials involving two CMA CGM container ships and a Seatrade reefer vessel.
In Brazil, Rio Maguari produced 23-m harbour tugs for Svitzer and Sulnorte in Q4 2025 as part of a series it is building to Robert Allan’s RAmparts 2300-design.
It completed Svitzer Copacabana to support a floating LNG import terminal in Brazil and SN Acarau for Sulnorte’s harbour operations.
Svitzer Copacabana has a bollard pull of 70 tonnes, a top speed of 13 knots and a FiFi1 firefighting system to provide emergency response. ABS-class SN Acarau has similar characteristics but has a static traction capacity of 77 tonnes.
Rio Maguari is also producing Svitzer Cassino and Svitzer Encintadas for the Danish owner, and SN Caraiva for Sulnorte, with deliveries expected in H1 2026. Brazilian owner Wilson Sons also expects to complete tugs at its own shipyard in 2026.
Wilson Sons has built the first of a new series of high-powered tugs in Brazil to handle larger ships calling at the nation’s main ports.
WS Halcyon is the first azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug launched in this series of three vessels at the shipyard in Guaruja, Sao Paulo.
It was built to Damen’s ASD 2312 design with an overall length of 23 m, a beam of 12 m and a bollard pull of 70 tonnes,
In Panama, the canal authority continues to welcome newbuilds – Isla Barro Colorado, Isla Bastimento and Isla Boná – built with hybrid-electric propulsion by Armón Shipyards in Spain under a multi-tug contract, with more expected to be delivered in 2026.
Riviera’s 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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