Pittsburgh, US headquartered Wabtec Corporation, better known for railway engineering, and Latin American partner, Marinsa International, have signed a contract to supply propulsion for 10 new hybrid tractor tugboats for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
Under the contract, Wabtec will deliver two 8L250MDA engines for each tugboat. These engines are considered to provide maximum availability with the lowest life-cycle cost for the vessel operators.
Tammy Gromacki, Wabtec VP Marine, Stationary and Drill, said: “Wabtec is delighted to power the new hybrid Panama Canal tugs with the 8L250MDA marine engines. We are honoured, through our partnership with Marinsa, to continue serving this important customer and the critical role they provide in facilitating world trade.”
The 30m tugboats will have hybrid electric propulsion to reduce emissions from ship towage while docking in Panamanian ports and through the canal. The 8L250MDA main engines are classed to ABS and meet IMO Tier II emissions standards. The engines have an operating span of about 60,000 hours between overhaul.
Marina President Adrian Walchli said: “We take great pride in being the longest operating Channel Partner of Wabtec marine engines, a testament to our enduring commitment to excellence and innovation in maritime solutions. As we embark on this exciting journey, Marinsa is fully committed to providing unwavering service support throughout the construction phase at the shipyard and extending our dedication to the upcoming fleet in Panama.”
The tugboats will be owned and operated by the ACP, and built at Astilleros Armón shipyard in Navia, Spain. Latin American channel partner, Marinsa International, will support the installation and commissioning in Spain, along with the service support of the operating fleet in Panama. The Wabtec engines will be manufactured at its Grove City, Pennsylvania plant. This marks the fourth order of Wabtec marine diesel engines to power the ACP fleet.
