The company has incorporated IMO TIER III standard, which reduces by more than 75% the emission levels of nitrogen oxides, in the company’s four tugboats that are being built at the Group’s shipyard in Guarujá at a cost of $290,000.

The first tugboat built with this standard should start operating in February of next year and the second one in August. The project is developed by Damen Shipyards, a Wilson Sons’ partner for more than 25 years, and the vessels will have 80 tonnes of bollard pull (TBP), 25 metres long and 13 metres wide, with Escort Tug class notation.

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With this technology, the new tugboats will comply with the requirements of the North American and European markets, determined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as emission control areas.

“Wilson Sons is being a pioneer in Brazil in meeting the requirements of Tier III standard, since it is not a requirement for the national territory, anticipating an eventual regulation in the country,” explained Rodrigo Bastos, director of operations of the Towage unit.

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In these projects, Wilson Sons will also use another pioneer technology in the market, the “twin fin”, a set of fins that increases the drag capacity during manoeuvres, and improves the performance of the tug. With this, for the same traction, less power is demanded and, consequently, there is a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.