This week, the Panama Canal Authority has announced the deployment of the Isla Barro Colorado tug equipped with a hybrid propulsion system with 445 kW batteries.
With a fixed-point traction of 80 tons and engines of 2,331 kW each, the Isla Barro Colorado offers the necessary capacity and maneuverability for the canal’s operations. In addition, it is equipped with a FIFI1 firefighting system which features an unattended engine and offers a top level of habitability and ergonomics which ensure that the crew will enjoy optimal conditions.
The shipbuilding company, Astilleros Armón, built the new tugboat, which will be incorporated into canal operations by mid-2025 and will contribute to the Authority’s environmental sustainability vision for the interoceanic route, thanks to the design’s limited fuel consumption and emission reduction ability
Between 2011 and 2015, Astilleros Armón also built 14 tugboats which were integrated into the Panama Canal’s floating fleet at that time.
