Turkish, Chinese and Vietnamese Yards Deliver a Wave of Tugs Into Latin America
SAAM alone took escort and harbour tugs into Chile, Mexico and Guatemala over the past few months
Shipyards in Turkey, China and Vietnam have delivered a run of harbour and escort tugs to some of the world's largest towage owners over the past few months, as those companies expand operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.
SAAM Towage has been the most active. Sanmar Shipyards has built a series of harbour tugs in Turkey for the world's third-largest tug owner under a long-term relationship and a multi-vessel contract. In July SAAM took delivery of tugs for its fleets in Chile, Guatemala and Mexico, all built to naval architecture from Robert Allan Ltd of British Columbia.
SAAM Carancho was welcomed to the Port of Quintero in Chile in August on AIS data, having been built as a Bigacay-class escort tug on Robert Allan's exclusive RAstar 2900SX design. Powered by twin Caterpillar 3516E main engines, each producing 2,350 kW, the 29-metre tug delivers 80 tonnes of bollard pull, achieves a free-running speed of 12 knots and carries FiFi1 firefighting capability.
Sanmar built SAAM Kanan as a Bogacay-class tug on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design, with a FiFi1 firefighting system and two Cat 3516E main engines of 2,350 kW each. It was integrated into SAAM's port operations at Veracruz in eastern Mexico in August.
A third unit, SAAM Hunabku, was built to the same Bogacay class and RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design with propulsion compliant with IMO Tier III emissions standards. During August the 24.4-metre tug was crossing the Atlantic and Caribbean towards Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala. It has a moulded beam of 12 metres, a least moulded depth of 4.5 metres, a navigational draught of 5.5 metres, 80 tonnes of bollard pull and a free-running speed of 12.5 knots, from two Cat 3516E engines driving two azimuth thrusters on the stern.
"SAAM Hunabku will deliver more eco-friendly operations at Puerto Quetzal, being the first IMO Tier III tugboat in Guatemala," said SAAM Towage director of newbuilds and innovation Pablo Caceres. SAAM and Sanmar signed for five newbuild tugs, four on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design and one RAstar 2900SX, at the 28th ITS Convention in May 2026, for operations in Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico. SAAM operates more than 200 tugboats in over 90 ports across 12 countries in the Americas.
Also in Guatemala, Arrendadora Continental is awaiting the newbuild azimuth stern drive tug San Jose, built by Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam to an ASD 2312 design with a beam of 12 metres and bollard pull of up to 70 tonnes. Damen won the contract in April 2026 and expected to complete the 23-metre vessel in July for delivery at Puerto Quetzal in September. It follows a similar ASD 2312, Iztapa, delivered to the same owner in 2025.
Svitzer is renewing its Caribbean fleet with the 497 gt escort tug Manzanillo, delivered in the Dominican Republic in July to assist gas carriers at an LNG import terminal. The 32-metre vessel was built by Sanmar to a RAstar 3200-SX design, with a beam of 13 metres, a minimum draught of 5 metres and 86 tonnes of bollard pull, from two high-speed four-stroke diesel engines driving two azimuth thrusters.
Boluda Towage is expanding in Latin America with at least two tugs built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards in China to Robert Allan's RAmparts 2500-CL design. The 25-metre VB Bohemio and VB Buhonero each have a beam of 12 metres, 70 tonnes of bollard pull and a top speed of 12 knots, and both were crossing the Pacific towards Central America in August under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In Brazil, Wilson Sons named WS Ariel, the final vessel in its latest fleet expansion programme, built at the company's own yard in Guaruja. The 23-metre tug was named at Pier Maua near Rio de Janeiro on 20 August before deployment at Niteroi to handle panamax ships.
