SAAM Towage has christened the SAAM Petrel in Arica, Chile, adding an 80-tonne bollard pull tugboat to support ship berthing and unberthing operations at one of the country's key northern ports.

The vessel stands out on one measure: it is the first tugboat in SAAM's Chilean fleet to meet IMO Tier III emissions standards, the regulatory tier designed to cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) output from marine engines significantly. That makes the Petrel the benchmark-setter in a fleet that handles towage across Chilean terminals, and it signals where the rest of the fleet renewal programme is heading.

The christening ceremony in Arica brought together local authorities, port representatives and SAAM employees. Jenny Muñoz, a 25-year SAAM veteran, served as the vessel's godmother.

Fleet renewal, Robert Allan design, Turkish build

Vancouver-based naval architecture firm Robert Allan designed the tug, and Sanmar Shipyards built it in Turkey. The combination is a familiar one in the towage sector: Robert Allan designs anchor a large share of modern harbor tugs worldwide, and Sanmar is one of the most prolific builders of the type, supplying operators across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

The Petrel forms part of SAAM Towage's wider fleet renewal programme, an effort that pairs newbuilding investment with emissions compliance. For a towage operator, the commercial logic is straightforward. Ports and charterers increasingly specify environmental performance in tender requirements, and Tier III compliance positions SAAM to meet those demands at Chilean terminals without retrofit costs.

An 80-tonne bollard pull also matters operationally in Arica. The northern Chilean port handles container and bulk traffic serving the region's mining and agricultural export economy, and larger vessels calling at South American West Coast ports require powerful tugs for safe berthing. Higher bollard pull gives the terminal more margin on windy days, deeper-drafted calls and bigger boxships.

Executive framing: sustainability and reliability

SAAM's leadership framed the investment in both commercial and environmental terms.

"The christening of the Petrel truly embodies our purpose as a company: driving sustainable global trade that fosters development and well-being for all," said Hernán Gómez, CEO of SAAM.

"Investing in these capabilities enables us to keep connecting Chile to the world through services that are increasingly efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible," Gómez added.

Javiera Hevia, Southern Cone Cluster Manager for SAAM Towage, pointed to the vessel's technology and its operational role. "The Petrel not only brings cutting-edge technology to swiftly meet customer demands, but it also reflects our crews' day-to-day commitment to operating under the highest safety standards," said Hevia.

What it means for shippers and carriers

For carriers calling at Arica, the addition translates into dependable towage capacity for maneuvering larger vessels, reducing the risk of weather- or tug-availability-related delays. For shippers moving cargo through northern Chile, terminal efficiency gains at the berth level help protect schedule integrity on West Coast South America services.

For SAAM, the Petrel marks a first step on Tier III compliance within its Chilean fleet — a signal that subsequent deliveries under the renewal programme will likely follow the same emissions standard, keeping the operator ahead of tightening maritime emissions rules.