In Puerto Chacabuco, one of the southernmost terminals in South America, the Trapananda, the first electric tugboat in Latin America, began operations. This unit represents a milestone for the regional maritime industry thanks to its propulsion by means of lithium-ion batteries. lithium-ion batteries supplied by Corvus Energy, one of the global leaders in marine energy storage.
SAAM and ENAP promote electric tugboat
The Trapananda is the result of a collaboration between SAAM Towage, the continent’s largest towing company, and the Chilean state-owned oil company ENAP. The design was developed by Robert Allan Ltd. and its construction was carried out by SANMAR shipyard.
With a length of 25 meters, a beam of 13 meters and a draft capacity of 70 tons, the vessel is prepared to operate in complex port conditions, providing services to deep-draft vessels.
Proven technology and sustainable vision
The installed battery system, of the Corvus Orca ESS type, has a capacity of 3,616 kWh. This technology has already been successfully used by SAAM in its electric tugboats. electric tugboats operating in Vancouver, Canada. According to the company, these vessels have achieved a 72% reduction in carbon intensity during the first year of operation and plan to achieve a 90% reduction in the second year.
Trapananda is part of SAAM’s Sustainability Strategy 2030, which includes the neutralization of 65% of greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse gas emissions from its fleet. emissions of its fleet. This is in addition to operational benefits such as lower maintenance costs and elimination of fossil fuel consumption.
An electrification model for the port sector
The commissioning of the Trapananda consolidates SAAM Towage’s progress towards a decarbonized operation in Latin America. At the same time, it positions Corvus Energy as a key supplier in the electrification of regional shipping.
The Norwegian company stresses that the growth in the use of battery-powered shipboard energy systems is accelerating the transition to cleaner and more efficient ports. More than 700 vessels worldwide are currently operating with Corvus solutions, which reinforces the maturity of this technology.
Projection for the continent’s maritime industry
With this addition, SAAM now has three battery-electric tugboats in its fleet, reinforcing its leadership as a zero-emissions operator. The case of the Trapananda serves as a reference for other Latin American ports that are seeking to integrate sustainable solutions without compromising capacity or maneuvering power.
The electrification of tugboats represents a concrete solution to reduce the environmental footprint of shipping, particularly in port environments with high traffic and ecological sensitivity.
Source and photo: Corvus Energy
