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The two vessels are part of the first project to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to El Salvador and will provide services at a terminal operated by Energía del Pacífico.

 

El Salvador, November 2021. A ceremony took place at the port of Acajutla to christen the SAAM Towage tugs, SAAM Acaxual and SAAM Centzunat. These vessels will provide services for the first project to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to El Salvador, a joint initiative from Energía del Pacífico (EDP) and the U.S. group Invenergy.

This activity was part of the festivities to celebrate the arrival of the first floating storage and regassification unit (FSRU), the BW Tatiana, at the city’s port. This is the first FSRU stationed on the Pacific Coast of Central America.

Attendees included the El Salvador Maritime Port Authority and the godmothers of both tugs, Yngvil Åsheim, Managing Director of BW LNG, a Norwegian provider of global LNG solutions, and Maureen Hakker de Calleja.

“This ground-breaking project for El Salvador will not only supply 30% of its energy demand, but will also bring clean, efficient energy. It will also diversify the energy matrix, which is a huge benefit for both end users and the environment in the country and the region,” explained Alberto Osorio Liébana, the project director for EDP.

“We took on this commitment with the professionalism and operational excellence we are known for, procuring machinery with the right features to provide support services at the terminal,” commented the Managing Director of SAAM Towage, Hernán Gómez.

At the event, the godmothers of the two tugs welcomed the vessels and cut a ribbon to officially christen them.

About the Tugs

They are equipped with specific safety features such as a remotely operated gas detection and automatic isolation system and deck equipment and machinery with explosive atmosphere certification (ATEX). They also have a Fire-Fighting 1 system for fighting offship fires, certified under Bureau Veritas classification rules.

The Rastar 3200W tugs, designed by Robert Allan Ltd., measure 32 meters long and were especially designed to meet this LNG terminal’s needs. In addition, with bollard pull of more than 80 tons, these vessels can work under dynamic traction loads of more than 135 tons at a speed of 10 knots.