The new vessels will have a new project from Damen Shipyards and will add to the largest fleet in Brazil
Wilson Sons will start, from the first quarter of 2021, the construction of six tugboats, at the Group's shipyards in Guarujá (SP). The new vessels will be added to the Company's fleet, the largest in Brazil, with 80 tugboats, spread across the Brazilian coast.
“The new series will contribute to the renewal of the fleet and will facilitate support for large ships that will stop over the next few years at Brazilian ports. We will also be prepared for business opportunities in the oil and gas industry, such as LNG operations and dedicated terminals”, informs Rodrigo Bastos, director of the Tugboat business unit at Wilson Sons.
The project will be by Damen Shipyards, Wilson Sons partner for over 25 years, and brings some innovations. The tugboats will have 80 tons of static traction (DWT), 25 meters long and 13 meters of beam, with Escort Tug class notation.
“This new model has the most modern equipment available on the market and guarantees a high level of security for port maneuvers”, explains Adalberto Souza, executive director of Wilson Sons shipyards.
Another innovation is the IMO Tier III certification that attests to the elimination of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). “Tier III is a great advantage of this project which, although not required in Brazil, shows how much we are at the forefront of the Brazilian naval industry”, highlights Souza.
The first tugboat is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022, and a new vessel is expected to be completed every four months until 2024. For this new venture, Wilson Sons plans to hire 50 professionals. “We are very optimistic about this project, which represents a boost for shipbuilding”, celebrates the executive director of Wilson Sons shipyards.