This tugboat represents one of the paths Enap is taking to support environmental protection and the country’s decarbonization.
Latin America’s first electric tugboat has officially begun its journey to Chile—a voyage expected to last about 45 days, departing from Tuzla, Turkey, and heading toward the Puerto Montt terminal. From there, the vessel will continue on to Puerto Chacabuco (in the Aysén Region) to begin its trial run.
“Our electric tugboat is getting closer every day. This is the third unit of its kind in our fleet—and the first in Latin America—which carries special meaning as it marks a step forward in our future strategy. We aim to grow as partners to our clients through increasingly sustainable operations,” said Pablo Cáceres, Sustainability and Development Manager at SAAM Towage.
Meanwhile, Enap’s Corporate Supply Chain Manager, Mauricio Naveas, emphasized how this vessel fits into the company’s broader development strategy: “This tugboat is one of the ways we’re contributing to environmental stewardship and the country’s decarbonization. It joins other initiatives such as the adoption of LNG-powered trucks, the first production of diesel made from used cooking oil, and the development of enabling infrastructure for green hydrogen in Magallanes. Enap has powered Chile for 80 years, and this tugboat, which will support our operations in Puerto Chacabuco, reflects our forward-looking vision and how we are addressing the challenges of the energy transition.”
The tugboat successfully completed its final sea trials and has been loaded onto the BBC Olympus, a heavy-lift vessel equipped with two high-capacity cranes.
Measuring 25 meters in length and 13 meters in beam (width), the tugboat has a bollard pull capacity of over 70 tons and will be used for berthing and unberthing services. Thanks to its lithium-ion batteries, it is fully electric and zero-emissions, powered entirely by renewable energy.