New high-performance tug for SAAM service at Port of Callao

The new tug, Albatros, was handed over to SAAM Towage by Sanmar. It will join the SAAM Towage tug Valkyria which recently started in Peru. The tugs will be based in the Port of Callao, Peru, and will be employed assisting the berthing and unberthing of vessels in the harbour.

The propulsion machinery comprises a pair of Caterpillar 3516C, main engines, each rated 2,100 kW at 1,600 rpm, each driving a Z-Drive unit, with 2,400 mm diameter fixed pitch propellers. Electrical power on the tugs is delivered by a pair of Caterpillar C4.4 diesel gen-sets, each rated 86 ekW at 1,800 rpm.

Measuring 24.4m x 11.25m, the Albatros can achieve an impressive 70 tonnes of bollard pull and has a top speed of approximately 13 knots.

A fire-fighting pump driven through clutched flexible coupling in front of port side main engine has a capacity of approx. 2700m3/hour.

SAAM Towage Technical Director, Pablo Caceres said: “We are very proud and excited to introduce a high quality built tugboat with the power and size that perfectly suits the requirements for the Port of Callao and, primarily, our Clients operating there. The ALBATROS has a well proven design throughout our operations, and has been improved with some other features that make her highly competitive”.