San Antonio pilot says “we have serious problems with boats and tugs”

By Andrés Orrego Siebert

@PortalPortuario

Tugboat operating in San Antonio, PortalPortuario archive.

Raúl Villegas, a pilot at the Port of San Antonio, warned that the current boats and tugs in use in the country are not equipped to handle the challenges imposed by climate change on maritime and port activities in Chile. He mentioned that “we have serious problems” with the vessels used for maneuvers.

Despite the increasing frequency and intensity of adverse weather conditions along the Chilean coast, pilots managed to execute 21,533 maneuvers in ports, as announced during the commemoration of Pilot’s Day last Friday at the Naval Club of Valparaíso.

Villegas referred to studies conducted to increase the maximum wave height permitted for operations, particularly at the Port of San Antonio, which has seen reduced availability due to abnormal storm surges and other factors.

“This situation is very complicated, especially with the current resources. We have serious issues with the tugboats and pilot boats,” he stated.

“We have to travel two and a half kilometers, about one mile, to board the ship using rope ladders, known in maritime terminology as cat ladders, to reach the captain. The swell is significantly affecting us, and the wave height poses serious challenges for us to do this,” he explained.

Tugboat in San Antonio, PortalPortuario archive

“Given the resources we have today, it is very difficult to keep raising the maximum wave height to over 2 meters, which is already the case at the Port of San Antonio, the port that handles the highest wave heights in Chile,” he added.

When asked what types of boats or tugboats should be brought to the country in response to this situation, Villegas stated that there are “superior-level” equipment options available.

“There are high-end pilot boats capable of handling waves of up to 4.5 to 5 meters. The current boats can only manage waves of 2.5 meters, which already poses significant challenges, and the same applies to the tugboats. There are high-quality tugs that operate effectively in higher waves, but the ones we currently have cannot maneuver under those conditions. They are 366-meter vessels that require four tugs, and even with just a 2-meter wave, the tug becomes severely stressed; with 3 or 4 meters, it cannot maintain its position on the vessel, resulting in a loss of grip, making operations extremely complicated,” he elaborated.

Studies

Pilot climbing up the cat ladder during maneuvers in the Port of San Antonio, image from the PortalPortuario archive

“The impact of storm surges and climate change in general has greatly affected us, evident in the opening and closing of ports in the central region. I believe we should continue engaging professional organizations to conduct studies aimed at minimizing the effects of storm surges on ports,” he added.

“Many years ago, waves broke on Avenida Perú in the commune of Viña del Mar, crashing into buildings, parking lots, and cars in the vicinity. A study was conducted—reportedly by the University of Valparaíso’s Oceanography department—and they proposed a solution involving tetrapods placed at a certain distance, allowing the waves to break before reaching the shoreline but without causing damage,” he explained.

“There is clear evidence of a professional approach taken before, and we must replicate this in our ports, calling upon professional organizations to help ascertain measures that could mitigate the impact of storm surges in Chile. This has not yet been accomplished, and it is essential that we undertake this task,” he emphasized.

By Andrés Orrego Siebert

@PortalPortuario

Raúl Villegas, pilot at the Port of San Antonio, warned that the current boats and tugs used in the country are not up to the challenge that climate change has imposed on maritime and port activity in Chile. In this regard, the maritime advisor also stated that “we have serious problems” with the vessels used for maneuvers.

Although adverse weather conditions are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity along the Chilean coast, pilots managed to carry out 21,533 maneuvers in ports, as was announced at the commemoration of Pilot’s Day, last Friday at the Naval Club of Valparaíso.

Challenges Facing the Port of San Antonio

Villegas referred to the studies that have been carried out to increase the height of the wave allowed to operate, especially in the Port of San Antonio which, due to abnormal storm surges and other factors, has seen its availability reduced.

“This is very complicated, very complicated with the current means. We have serious problems with the tugboats, the pilot boats,” he said.

“We have to go out two and a half kilometres, one mile, to get on board the ship using rope ladders that are called cat ladders in maritime terminology to be able to get there and talk to the captain. The swell is affecting us a lot and the height of the wave is really complicated to be able to do that,” he said.

“With the resources available today, I find it very difficult to continue increasing the wave height to more than 2 meters, which is already the case at the Port of San Antonio, which is the port that handles the highest wave height in Chile,” he added.

Optimal Solutions for Modern Tugboats

Asked about his vision of what boats or tugboats should be brought to the country in this scenario, Villegas stated that there is equipment of a “superior level.”

• High-end pilot boats: Capable of handling waves of up to 4.5 to 5 meters.
• Current boats: Only able to manage waves of 2.5 meters, which pose significant operational challenges.
• High-performance tugs: Required for effective maneuvers, especially concerning larger vessels.

“There are high-end pilot boats that can handle waves of up to 4.5 to 5 metres. The current ones can only handle waves of 2.5 metres and are very difficult with 2.5 metres, and the same goes for tugs. There are high-end tugs that work effectively with higher waves, but the ones we have today are not like that and we cannot manoeuvre them. They are 366-metre vessels that use four tugs, and the tug is already very stressed with two metres, and with three or four metres it cannot lean on the vessel, it loses its position, it cannot pull, so it is really complicated,” he explained.

Impact of Climate Change

“The issue of storm surge and climate change in general has affected us greatly and is reflected in the opening and closing of ports in the central area. I think we should continue to ask professional organizations for studies to try to minimize the effect of storm surge on ports,” he added.

“Many years ago, the wave broke on Avenida Perú, in the commune of Viña del Mar, and hit the buildings, the parking lots, and the cars that were there. A study was done, which I understand was done by the University of Valparaíso with its Oceanography department, and they found a solution with tetrapods that were placed at a certain distance and then the wave broke and reached the shoreline, but without force,” he said.

Recommendations for Mitigating Storm Surge Effects

“There is evidence that a professional activity was carried out and in the ports we must do the same and call on professional organizations that can help us determine the measures to mitigate the effect of the storm surges in Chile, and that has not been done and we have to do it,” he added.

Proposed Strategies

• Engage in comprehensive harbor studies to assess upgrade needs for tugboats and pilot boats.
• Invest in advanced maritime technology to improve the capabilities of vessels at the Port of San Antonio.
• Collaborate with academic institutions for the development of innovative solutions to combat storm surges.
• Implement efficient training for crews to manage operations during adverse weather conditions.

Conclusion

With increasing wave heights and enhanced storm activity due to climate change, the maritime industry in Chile faces significant challenges. Addressing these issues requires an urgent reevaluation of the current fleet operating in key ports like San Antonio, along with strategic investments to improve capabilities and safety measures for port pilots and tugboat operations alike.