Wilson Sons, a Brazilian maritime stalwart with nearly two centuries of experience, is doubling down on safety, efficiency, and sustainability with a bold upgrade to its Training Centre. The company has unveiled a state-of-the-art tugboat manoeuvre simulator at its new facility in Santos, São Paulo, a move that underscores the company’s commitment to innovation in the face of growing port congestion and environmental scrutiny.
The simulator isn’t just a training tool—it’s a strategic asset. By allowing captains and maritime workers to rehearse manoeuvres in virtual environments, Wilson Sons can fine-tune operations for its fleet of 80 tugboats, which support trade and offshore energy across 25 Brazilian ports. The technology doesn’t just simulate standard scenarios; it dives into customised port challenges, testing solutions for everything from extreme weather to vessel size constraints. This isn’t just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about optimising efficiency in real-world conditions.
Rodrigo Bastos, Director of Towage Operations at Wilson Sons, puts it bluntly: “The technology behind the new manoeuvre simulator supports our innovation strategy. It is a tool that increases the safety and efficiency of our operations, supporting the growth of the Brazilian port industry and the competitiveness of the global logistics chain.” In other words, this isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about setting the pace.
Beyond training, the simulator serves as a collaborative hub for clients and stakeholders, allowing them to analyse and test projects in a risk-free environment. This opens the door to industry-wide improvements, as insights from simulated manoeuvres could influence port infrastructure planning and operational protocols.
But Wilson Sons isn’t stopping at simulation. Its Towage Operations Centre (COR), which has been monitoring the fleet in real time since 2011, has been supercharged with Artemis, a new operating system developed in partnership with startup Argonáutica. Artemis integrates AIS data, meteoceanographic conditions, and external sources to optimise tugboat allocation, reduce fuel consumption, and lower emissions. Pedro Lima, Fleet and Operations Manager, explains the impact: “Continual tracking ensures maximum efficiency of our assets and adds an important layer of safety to the manoeuvres. Besides, by allocating the most suitable tugboat to meet client demands, at the right time and at the right speed, operations become more sustainable and with lower emissions.”
The company’s “Safe WS-Standard Manoeuvre” project, launched in April 2024, has already trained over 150 captains in electronic navigation, equipment use, and risk prevention. Emergency drills cover wire rope breakage, extreme weather, and low visibility, ensuring crews are prepared for anything. This focus on continuous training and real-time monitoring is paying off—Wilson Sons’ lost-time accident rate for the 12 months ending June 30th, 2025, was 0.47 incidents per million hours, beating the global benchmark of 0.50.
This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about leadership. By investing in cutting-edge simulation, real-time monitoring, and continuous training, Wilson Sons is setting a benchmark for the industry. The question now is: Who’s following?