Wilson Sons starts operating a new tug with greenhouse gas emission reduction technology
- 14/06/2022
- 4 minutes
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.
About Wilson Sons
Wilson Sons is the largest integrated port-shipping logistics operator in Brazil, with over
180 years of experience. The company operates all across Brazil and offers complete
solutions to more than 5,000 clients, including shipowners, importers and exporters, oil
& gas companies, renewable energy projects, agribusiness corporations, and other
players in different businesses.
