In a noteworthy advance for sustainable maritime operations, Sanmar Shipyards has triumphantly concluded sea trials for its third fully-electric tug of the Electra Series, commissioned by SAAM Towage. Upon delivery, this innovative vessel shall stand as the first emissions-free tug plying the waters of Latin America, and the eighth such craft constructed by SANMAR. Six further ElectRA tugs are presently under construction at the shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul.
SAAM Towage, the largest towage services provider in the Americas, already deploys two zero-emission ElectRA tugs—SAAM VOLTA and CHIEF DAN GEORGE—along Canada’s west coast. This latest vessel, based on the exclusive SANMAR ElectRA 2500SX design from Robert Allan Ltd, measures 25.4 metres in length, 12.86 metres in beam, and 5.6 metres in draft, with a maximum battery capacity of 3,616 kWh. It achieves a bollard pull of at least 70 tonnes and can reach speeds of up to 12.5 knots.
Commenting on this development, Mr. Rüçhan Çıvgın, Commercial Director of Sanmar Shipyards, emphasised that the shift towards electric propulsion and alternative fuels must not entail any compromise in power or performance. SANMAR has thus charted a strategic course to pioneer low- and zero-emission tugs, employing advanced alternative fuels and cutting-edge technologies to safeguard the marine environment.
Mr. Pablo Cáceres, Sustainability and Development Director at SAAM Towage, welcomed the new ElectRA additions by stating that electric-powered tugs point the way towards more sustainable operations and the future evolution of the company’s fleet.
