Wilson Sons launches new tugboat to operate in the Port of Santos
SANTOS: On Wednesday, May 13th, Wilson Sons, a port and shipping logistics operator with over 188 years of experience, held the launch ceremony of WS Capella, the second tug of a new range of three high-powered tugboats.
Just like WS Halcyon, baptised in January this year, WS Capella was built at the company’s shipyard and is also an ASD 2312 class tug (23 metres long, 12 metres wide). With azimuth thrusters, 70-ton bollard pull, and capacity to handle the largest ships operating in Brazil during docking and undocking manoeuvres, the new vessel will operate in the Port of Santos, the largest port complex in Latin America. Its modern design allows for reduced fuel consumption, which directly contributes to lower emissions. Versatile, WS Capella is also equipped with a fire-fighting system with a capacity of 2,400,000 litres/hour of water (FiFi 1).
The godmother of the vessel will be Flávia Carvalho, Executive Director of Wilson Sons Shipping Agency.
The new tugs are part of Wilson Sons’ fleet renewal and expansion strategy, with 83 vessels operating along the Brazilian coast. This reinforces the company’s commitment to the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of its operations. Márcio Castro, Executive Director of the Towage division at Wilson Sons, emphasizes that the new vessels are a robust addition to Brazil’s logistics chain.
“With its power, WS Capella will fully meet the requirements necessary for the safe handling of increasingly larger ships, generating income and strengthening port infrastructure, which directly supports the Brazilian economy,” Castro says.
According to Adalberto Souza, Executive Director of Wilson Sons’ Shipyard, “the company invests in cutting-edge shipbuilding technology and, to achieve this, it relies on highly qualified specialists, always striving for operational excellence.”
Another ASD 2312 class tugboat is being built at the Guarujá shipyard, with delivery scheduled for the third quarter of this year. With this new range of tugboats, Wilson Sons will reach the milestone of 156 vessels built at its shipyard, which boasts over than 80 years of history.
About Wilson Sons
With more than 188 years of operations across the Brazilian territory, Wilson Sons is a port and shipping logistics operator. As a reference in this segment, it offers comprehensive solutions to over 5,000 clients, including shipowners, importers and exporters, the offshore energy industry, renewable energy projects, the agribusiness sector, as well as other players across various economic segments.

