SAAM Towage expands in South America

Designed by Robert Allan Ltd, the SAAM Petrel and the SAAM Charrán are named after native seabirds of Chile and Peru, a tradition reflecting SAAM’s 60-year heritage.

“This acquisition is a key part of SAAM Towage’s investment plan for this year, which seeks to continue optimising our operational capacity and service offering to strengthen our presence in both countries,” said Cristián Cifuentes, SAAM Towage’s Chile-Peru country manager.

The SAAM Petrel is currently en route to the Port of Arica, Chile, and is the first tug in the country equipped with an IMO Tier III certified system for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. The SAAM Charrán has already arrived at the Port of Callao in Peru.

Both vessels meet Fire Fighting 1 standards and are designed for terminal operations, including vessel berthing and deberthing manoeuvres. Their addition reduces the average fleet age in Chile and Peru to 13 years, while offering increased power and efficiency.

With a length of 24.4 metres, width of 12 metres and a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, the tugs feature Caterpillar engines and reach speeds of up to 13 knots. Their Rampart 2500SX MKII design allows for precise manoeuvring in tight port spaces, ideal for handling large vessels.