SAAM Towage took another step in its expansion strategy in Brazil by announcing the hiring of the Belov shipyard, located in Bahia, to build four new tugboats that will join its national fleet. The initiative is part of the company's permanent vessel renewal program and reinforces its commitment to modernizing port support operations in the country.
The new vessels will be of the azimuth type and will have static traction capacity of 70 tonnes (bollard pull), in addition to being equipped with FiFi 1 fire-fighting system. The tugboats will use a design developed by Canadian company Robert Allan, a world reference in naval architecture for maritime support vessels.
Currently, SAAM Towage maintains operations at 19 Brazilian ports and owns a fleet of over 65 tugboats in the country. According to the company, the investment seeks to keep pace with growing demand for port services, offering more modern, efficient assets prepared to serve increasingly larger vessels operating at national terminals.
SAAM Towage Brasil country manager Renata Ervilha highlighted that the Brazilian market holds a strategic position within the company's global operations. According to her, fleet renewal is part of the commitment to maintain high standards of safety, operational efficiency and quality of services provided to clients.
Beyond operational gains, the construction of tugboats at a Brazilian shipyard is expected to generate positive impacts for the naval industry supply chain. The contract strengthens industrial activity in Bahia, engaging suppliers, specialized companies and skilled labor throughout the vessel manufacturing process.
In recent years, SAAM Towage has been expanding its investments in technology, sustainability and fleet renewal in several countries where it operates. The company also develops initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and using more efficient equipment, aligning its operations with environmental requirements and global maritime trends.
With the arrival of the four new tugboats, the expectation is to increase operational availability of the Brazilian fleet, improve the reliability of support services for port maneuvering and further consolidate SAAM Towage's position among the leading maritime towing companies operating in Brazil.
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