With an innovative hull design and more efficient hydrodynamics, it is the first in a series of six IMO TIER III tugs which will be delivered in 2022 and 2023
Last week, Wilson Sons has started operating the first of six new tugs with an innovative concept in Brazil. With a Damen RSD 2513 design, its hull features a more efficient hydrodynamics for an estimated reduction of up to 14% in greenhouse gas emissions. The twin fins improve seaworthiness and increase drag capacity during manoeuvers, which ensures lesser fuel consumption and consequently, lower emissions.
Besides, the new vessels are the first in Brazil to follow the IMO TIER III standard, which promotes reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 75% and helps improve air quality in the ports where they operate. This standard is required in some regions of North America and Europe.
The 25-metre-long 13-metre-beam tug “WS Centaurus” has a bollard pull of 91 tons, Escort Tug notation and firefighting certification (FiFi 1), making it the most powerful tugboat operating in Brazil.
“The delivery of the new tugboats demonstrates the relevance of innovation and sustainability for Wilson Sons. For more than 180 years, the company has always been at the forefront, which is why our vessels are bringing to Brazil unprecedented energy efficiency standards,” says Márcio Castro, executive director of the Tugboat division at Wilson Sons.
Next deliveries
Built at the Wilson Sons shipyard in Guarujá (SP), designed by Damen Shipyards, “WS Centaurus” will operate in São Luís do Maranhão, making up the fleet of 11 tugs that the company maintains to support berthing and unberthing of iron ore ships at the Ponta da Madeira Terminal and at the Port of Itaqui. This place of operation was chosen because of the large ships that manoeuvre there, where full-potential energy efficiency can be applied.
Another two new tugs will be delivered later this year – and the other three will come into operation in 2023.
Sustainability strategy
Delivery of the first of the six new tugs is part of a range of sustainability actions taken by Wilson Sons to support a low carbon economy. These environmental actions include the Tugboat Operations Centre (COR), located in Santos (SP). COR provides real-time monitoring of 80 tugboats throughout the Brazilian coast by defining the best time for displacement to and from manoeuvres and at an optimal speed to ensure greater diesel oil consumption efficiency and consequently, reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Last year, Wilson Sons joined the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) to make sure it is in line with the latest best practices in the climate agenda. For further information, check out Wilson Sons’ first Sustainability Report that has been recently released.