SAAM Towage Canada spans seven decades

According to company president Sander Bikkers, every port could use some of SAAM Towage’s iconic yellow tugs. SAAM Towage Canada has been operating for 70 years. However, for the parent company, it did not start out in Canada; in fact, it began as a Chilean company established in 1961 (the group is celebrating its 60th birthday this year). Regardless of its ownership, Bikkers says SAAM Towage Canada is a true Canadian company. “All of our 23 tugboats in Canada are managed and serviced by people who grew up in the area where we operate. They know all the ins and outs of the ports, the beautiful coastline and waterways of British Columbia.”

SAAM’s purpose is facilitating the exchange of goods that are essential for people’s well-being and to drive the economic and social development of countries through exceptional and efficient port, towage and logistics services that bring competitiveness to foreign trade, profitability to shareholders, opportunities to neighbouring communities and respect for the environment.

SAAM aims to become the leading company in port operations and towage services, and recognized as an important logistics operator that stands for its industry knowledge, geographic coverage, capacity for internationalization, service quality and commitment to customers. SAAM Towage Canada contributes to the international vision by providing tug services beyond expectations.

“SAAM Towage Canada evolved from barge towing and logging into a towage and ship-docking company,” Bikkers says. “SAAM Towage Canada was the amalgamation of different, small companies located here in the West Coast of Canada into one big company, RIVTOW, until the 2000s

Coming from the oil and gas industry where safety is the No. 1 most important task of any CEO, he will not rest until he gets safety on top of everyone’s mind and actions in his company.

when we were acquired by a Dutch company called Smit International. During those 10 years of ownership, the company expanded and acquired additional activities and new companies in Prince Rupert and Vancouver. In 2014, Boskalis, the company who acquired Smit in 2009, set up a joint venture with SAAM, a Chilean company, that lasted until 2019.”

From 2019, SAAM continued as the sole owner and operator of SAAM Towage after the Dutch company sold its share. With 176 tugs, SAAM Towage operates in 12 countries and today is the leading towage operator in the Americas. Most of its clients are international operators.

Bikkers says one of his personal goals on the job is to achieve zero injuries, zero accidents and zero spills.

“That’s something we put a lot of emphasis on. When you leave your home in one piece you want to come home in one piece,” Bikkers says. Coming from the oil and gas industry where safety is the No. 1 most important task of any CEO, he will not rest until he gets safety on top of everyone’s mind and actions in his company. “As safety is one of our five core values, it is not just some lip service. It has to become secund nature to stay safe while providing towage services beyond expectations,” he adds.

“We’re also aiming to further reduce our environmental footprint,” he says. After introducing the first IMO Tier III tug in Canada, SAAM Towage is working towards further reducing its underwater noise pollution and its carbon footprint.

Additionally, Bikkers says his overall goal for SAAM Towage Canada is to continue growing. “The colour of our tugs looks great; we believe that every sizeable port could use some yellow,” he says. “We’re working on expanding to provide our customers with a single, known operator in many other ports, both inside and outside Canada.”

For more information, visit saamtowage.com. Ü