The partnership will focus on developing initiatives aimed at optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO) and continuously improving the operation and maintenance processes of azimuth thrusters.
Santiago (Chile), June 25, 2026 | SAAM and SCHOTTEL reached a comprehensive agreement to promote continuous improvement, raise service standards and strengthen the operational availability of the tugboat fleet of the industry-leading company in the Americas.
One of the main focuses of this joint effort will be exploring predictive maintenance solutions for azimuth systems, incorporating condition-based monitoring to determine the optimal time to service the equipment.
This approach, already used in industries such as aviation and mining, opens up new opportunities to anticipate maintenance needs, manage unplanned contingencies and develop strategies for securing critical spare parts, reducing response times and strengthening operational continuity.
“The agreement allows us to move toward a more integrated and collaborative relationship with SCHOTTEL, with a focus on continuous improvement, the availability of our fleet and the efficiency of our maintenance processes. This is a crucial step toward further strengthening the reliability of our operations and the service we provide to our customers,” said Alentué Pompei, Fleet and Operations manager at SAAM Towage.
As part of the implementation, SCHOTTEL will assign a fleet manager to coordinate the monitoring of the units, facilitate the exchange of technical information and support the creation of an integrated database of the equipment installed in SAAM’s fleet.
“We are proud to support SAAM in this strategic partnership, creating long-term value through a more integrated and future-oriented maintenance approach. By leveraging innovation and data-driven insights, we support the continued development of SAAM’s SCHOTTEL-equipped tugboat fleet,” said Julio Carrasquilla, Managing Director SCHOTTEL de Colombia.
Currently, about 37% of the company’s azimuth tugboat fleet has equipment from this supplier. In addition, the recent opening of a SCHOTTEL workshop in Cartagena, Colombia strengthens the region’s service and technical support capabilities.
