SAAM Towage

What SAAM Towage does

SAAM Towage is the maritime towage division of Sociedad Matriz SAAM S.A., a privately held Chilean multinational founded in 1961 and headquartered in Santiago. It operates the largest tugboat fleet in the Americas, comprising over 200 vessels deployed across more than 90 ports in 13 countries (North, Central, and South America), employing approximately 2,000 people and completing roughly 140,000 maneuvers and 150,000 vessel assists per year. Its service portfolio spans five core lines: harbour towage (berthing, unberthing, escort), oil and gas terminal towage, 24/7 emergency response (salvage, firefighting, environmental containment), offshore platform positioning and anchoring, and special services (ocean towing, barge assistance, maritime rescue). The fleet includes modern ASD tugboats with 80-ton bollard pull, IMO Tier III emissions-compliant vessels, mechanical hybrid propulsion systems, and an emerging electric fleet featuring the ElectRA 2300SX, a 100% battery-electric tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd., built by SANMAR Shipyards, and powered by Corvus Energy Li-ion batteries.

Revenue is generated through negotiated service contracts with port authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies, and energy customers, with country-level commercial managers handling direct bilateral relationships in each market. Strategic enterprise customers include CMA CGM (10,000 maneuvers per year across 11 countries), Teck Resources, Neptune Terminals, Oldendorff Carriers, ENAP, and Energía del Pacífico. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured per contract rather than on a published rate card. SAAM Towage has executed a sustained acquisition-led growth strategy, including the US$201 million Boskalis joint operation buyout in 2019, the US$198 million Starnav acquisition in Brazil in 2023, and the completion of full ownership of Colombia's Intertug in 2026. It is now the third-largest towage operator globally and a recognized leader in sustainable maritime services, holding ISO 14001, BASC, PAS 2060 carbon neutrality, and DJSI certifications across multiple markets.

Name

SAAM Towage

Legal name

Sociedad Matriz SAAM S.A.

Website

https://saamtowage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SAAM Towage is the largest tugboat operator in the Americas, providing harbour, terminal, offshore, and emergency towage services across 90+ ports in 13 countries with a fleet of 200+ vessels. It serves port authorities, shipping lines, and energy companies under negotiated service contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Towage Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Harbor Towage (Ship Assist & Berthing/Unberthing) (TLAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ship Docking/Undocking & Drydock Towage (TLAHAHAD), Emergency Towage & Rescue (Disabled Vessel Assistance) (TLAHAIAA), Salvage Support Towage (Refloating/Wreck Removal Assistance) (TLAHAHAH), Barge & Offshore Towage (Barge Moves, Rig/Platform Tows) (TLAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Harbour towage services
• Marine vessel assistance
• Port tugboat operations
• Offshore platform positioning
• Maritime emergency response

Headquarters

HQ city

Valparaiso

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Harbour Towage Services: Berthing, unberthing and escort services for vessels. Core revenue stream from port operations across 90+ ports.
2. Terminal Towage - Oil & Gas: Specialized services for oil and gas tanker ships including docking/undocking, transshipment assistance, and escort services at offshore terminals.
3. Emergency Assistance Services: 24/7 emergency response including salvaging, firefighting (FiFi), crew evacuation, and environmental damage containment.
4. Offshore Services: Positioning and anchoring of Oil & Gas platforms, CPM operations assistance, and maritime services to offshore terminals.
5. Special Services: Ocean towing, barge assistances, maritime rescue, anchor and boat handling, cargo transportation, and maritime support for infrastructure works.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAAM Towage provides contracted maritime towage and vessel support services through a fleet of 200+ tugboats operating at 90+ ports in 13 countries across the Americas. Core services include harbour towage (berthing, unberthing, and vessel escort), terminal towage for oil & gas tankers, 24/7 emergency assistance (firefighting, salvage, environmental containment, crew evacuation), offshore platform positioning and anchoring, and special services such as ocean towing, barge assistance, and infrastructure support. The fleet includes 100% electric zero-emission ElectRA 2300SX tugs and hybrid propulsion vessels.

Product overview

SAAM Towage is a maritime towage services provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of port and sea tugboat operations across the Americas. The company provides five core service lines: Harbour Towage (berthing, unberthing, escort services), Terminal Towage – Oil&Gas (specialized services for tankers and offshore terminals), Emergency Assistance (24/7 rescue and firefighting), Offshore Services (platform positioning and anchoring), and Special Services (ocean towing, barge assistances, maritime rescue). SAAM also operates an Electric Fleet of 100% battery-powered zero-emission tugs, including the ElectRA 2300SX series, representing its sustainable technology portfolio. The company operates one of the largest tugboat fleets in the Americas with over 200 vessels serving 90+ ports across 13 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harbour Towage Berthing, unberthing, and escort services for a diverse array of vessels and shipments at port facilities across 90+ ports in the Americas.
• Terminal Towage – Oil & Gas Specialized services for oil and gas tanker ships including docking/undocking, assistance in transshipment operations, direct/indirect escorting, and diverse maritime services onshore at oil and gas terminals.
• Emergency Assistance 24/7 emergency response services including salvaging shipwrecks, crew evacuation, fire fighting (FiFi), and environmental damage containment from spills.
• Offshore Services Positioning and anchoring of Oil & Gas platforms, assistance in CPM operations, and diverse maritime services to offshore terminals.
• Special Services Ocean towing, barge assistances, maritime rescue, anchor and boat handling duties, cargo transportation, and maritime support for infrastructure works.
• Electric Fleet 100% electric, zero-emission tugboats powered by battery systems and charged via clean hydroelectric power grid, reducing carbon emissions and underwater noise pollution for port towage services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions reduced annually per electric tug
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Belov ShipyardcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 30 June 2026Contract signed for construction of four new 70-ton bollard pull ASD tugboats with FiFi 1 firefighting systems in Brazil. Project supports fleet renewal strategy and growth in Brazil market.
• SCHOTTELcoreTechnology or Integration · 25 June 2026Global agreement to strengthen maintenance of tugboat fleet, focusing on predictive maintenance solutions for azimuth systems. SCHOTTEL will assign a fleet manager to coordinate monitoring, facilitate technical information exchange, and support an integrated database. Currently 37% of SAAM's azimuth fleet has SCHOTTEL equipment.
• ASENAVcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 13 January 2026Historic partnership to build state-of-the-art tugboat in Chile. Vessel meets IMO Tier III international environmental standards.
• Caterpillar MarinecoreTechnology or Integration · 2 April 2025Agreement for advancing electrification and alternative fuels in tugboat operations. Companies are working to launch diesel and methanol dual-fuel engine technology.
• UC Innovation CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025Partnership to evaluate SAAM's processes and participate in innovation initiatives.
• Teck Resources LimitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Committed to using SAAM Towage's electric tug services at Neptune Terminals. Partnership enables sustainable operations through zero-emission tugboats at Port of Vancouver.
• Neptune TerminalsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Electric tugboat partnership at Port of Vancouver. Neptune Terminals handles bulk commodities including potash and supports SAAM's sustainable operations.
• Oldendorff CarrierscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Long-term commitment to use SAAM Towage's electric tugs at Port of Vancouver for sustainable maritime operations.
• BC HydrocoreTechnology or Integration · 10 April 2024Provides clean hydroelectric power for charging SAAM's electric tugs at Port of Vancouver. 98% of BC Hydro's electricity comes from clean and renewable resources.
• Value Aligned PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Alliance for electric tugboat deployment in Canada, supporting SAAM's sustainability strategy.
• Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Strategic alliance covering access to education, training, employment and towing services in Canada.
• ENAP (Empresa Nacional del Petróleo)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2024Service agreement to make Chile the first country in Latin America with an electric maritime tugboat. The vessel will operate at Puerto Chacabuco in Aysén region, providing emission-free berthing and unberthing services.
• Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 18 December 2023Canadian naval architecture firm that designs SAAM's electric tugs (ElectRA 2300SX) and other vessels. Close collaboration essential for electric tug optimization.
• Corvus EnergycoreTechnology or Integration · 2 November 2023Battery technology provider for electric tugs. Part of collaboration for ElectRA 2300SX electric tugboats.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2023Scientific and technological collaboration agreement for alternative fuels, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, digitalization, and process automation research.
• Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2023SAAM Towage-UNAB Academy launched to train tugboat officers. Program covers 15 subjects over 450 teaching hours, professionalizing captain and engineer functions. 16 new officers trained annually.
• Uzmar ShipyardminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 9 March 2021Built SAAM Acaxual and SAAM Centzunat tugs for Energía del Pacífico LNG terminal in El Salvador.
• Transport and Offshore Services (TOS)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2020Dutch company that provided voyage delivery of tugs from Turkey to Ecuador.
• Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2019Historic agreement for access to education, training, employment and towing services in British Columbia, Canada.
• SANMAR ShipyardsflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2018Long-standing shipbuilding partnership since 2018. SANMAR has built 15+ tugboats for SAAM including latest SAAM Carancho and SAAM Kanan. Partnership based on shared standards of safety, efficiency and sustainability.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Svitzer: Global towage operator owned by Maersk, one of the largest tug operators worldwide with extensive Americas presence. Directly comparable as a harbor towage specialist serving ports and shipping companies with similar vessel assist and escort services.
• Boluda Towage: Major global towage operator with strong presence in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Directly comparable as a multi-region harbor towage provider competing for port contracts in similar geographies.
• KOTUG International: International towage operator based in the Netherlands with operations across multiple continents. Directly comparable as a harbor and terminal towage provider serving oil & gas terminals and port operators.
• Fairplay Towage: European towage company with operations in Germany, Spain, and other markets. Comparable as a port towage specialist offering vessel assist, escort, and emergency response services.
• Bukser og Berging: Norwegian towage and salvage company providing harbor towage, offshore, and emergency services. Comparable as a multi-service maritime operator with similar capability matrix.
• Smit Lamnalco: Joint venture between Royal Boskalis Westminster and Lamnalco, providing terminal towage and offshore services globally. Highly comparable as a port towage specialist with strong oil & gas terminal focus.
• Vroon: Dutch shipping company with offshore and towage operations. Comparable as a maritime services provider with vessel assist and offshore support capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Tidewater Inc. Largest owner of offshore support vessels globally, with overlapping offshore services for oil & gas platforms. Comparable for offshore platform positioning and oil & gas terminal towage business.

Regional players

• Wilson Sons: Brazilian port and maritime services operator with towage operations. Comparable as a direct competitor in the Brazilian market where SAAM has its largest single-country footprint.
• Grupo CBO: Brazilian offshore support vessel operator serving oil & gas industry. Comparable for offshore services and oil & gas terminal support in the Brazilian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=52qtiV8theM&ab_channel=MariajoseMartinez
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saamtowage
• Instagraminstagram.com/saam_towage

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAAM Towage