Armon Shipyards in Spain has reached a milestone by launching Isla Barro Colorado, the first of 10 hybrid-propulsion tugboats for the Panama Canal Authority (PCA). These vessels aim to reduce emissions while assisting ships through the vital canal connecting the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The 29-meter tug, equipped with a 445-kW battery pack supporting two 2,331-kW engines, delivers an 80-tonne bollard pull and features a FiFi1 fire-fighting system. Designed for precision manoeuvring, it has a 14-meter beam and a draught of over 6 meters, ideal for Panama’s expanded canal system and ports.
Nine more tugs will follow, with deliveries scheduled for 2025 and 2026. This series builds on Armon’s earlier success of delivering 14 tugs to the PCA between 2011 and 2015, reflecting the authority's push to reduce its reliance on chartered vessels.