WABTEC AND MARINSA SECURE MARINE ENGINE ORDER FOR NEW PANAMA CANAL TUGBOATS

Wabtec Corporation and Latin American Channel Partner, Marinsa International, recently signed a contract to supply the primary power for 10 new hybrid tractor tugboats for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

The 30m tugboats will have hybrid-electric propulsion to reduce emissions from ship towage while docking in Panamanian ports and through the canal. The new 8L250MDA main engines are classed to ABS and meet IMO Tier II emissions standards. The engines have an operating span of approximately 60,000 hours before requiring overhaul, when the maintenance schedule is followed.

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.