Wilson Sons launches WS Ariel high-power tugboat

Wilson Sons has launched the WS Ariel, the third high-power tugboat in its new series, during a ceremony at Pier Mauá in Rio de Janeiro. The vessel was constructed at the company’s shipyard in Guarujá, São Paulo.

As part of the ASD 2312 class, the WS Ariel measures 23 meters in length and 12 meters in width. It features azimuthal propulsion and a bollard pull of 73.5 tons, specifically designed to assist large vessels, such as New Panamax ships, with docking and undocking maneuvers. The tugboat also includes a FiFi 1 fire extinguishing system capable of discharging 2.4 million liters of water per hour.

The addition of the WS Ariel is part of a broader fleet renewal and expansion strategy, bringing Wilson Sons’ total operational fleet to 83 vessels along the Brazilian coast. The new series aims to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability by reducing fuel consumption and emissions through optimized propulsion and hull hydrodynamics.