Caterpillar powertrains for Wilson tugs

Together with Cat dealer, Sotreq, Caterpillar will oversee the implementation of retrofits and upgrades to reduce the environmental impact of Wilson Sons’ existing fleet, emissions monitoring services, and the use of low or no carbon fuels.

Wilson Sons plans to build six new Cat powered tugboats, two of which have been delivered already. These tugs incorporate new technologies, including IMO Tier III emissions standards.

“An innovative tug design allows an estimated reduction of up to 14% in greenhouse gas emissions thanks to more efficient hydrodynamics,” said Adalberto Souza, executive director of Wilson Sons shipyards. “For the coming years, we are planning to build new tugs designed for reduced emissions, usage of batteries or alternative fuels like biodiesel, methanol or ethanol,” he added.

Wilson Sons’ sustainability focus encompasses reducing carbon emissions long-term through the adoption of low carbon fuels, hybrid, and electrification solutions.

“We’re looking at a broad range of solutions in our portfolio in alignment with Wilson Sons’ goals,” said Andres Perez, global tug segment manager, Caterpillar Marine.

“In the case of engine upgrades, our solution leverages the high durability of Caterpillar Marine engines. It adds engineering improvements, emissions reduction, and performance enhancements developed since the inception of the original asset.

“When combined with major overhauls, customers can significantly improve the value of their assets for a reasonable incremental investment. In addition, we fully leverage Cat Reman, reducing waste and minimising the need for raw material, energy and water associated with producing new parts,” he concluded.