A joy I felt on the Pacific side came from seeing North American boats in these new seas. Capt Latham stood out unambiguously as US ATB when I spotted her at anchor on the Pacific side, and has now made her way into the Canal.
The lines on Algab also suggested a past life in the US, and in fact, she was a US Army tug known as LT-331, built in Mobile AL in 1942. She’d also operated for Moran and Bisso.
Pipsa I, here with barge Ecomar 1 and operated by Ecomar as a slops/bilge water collection barge, strikes me also as a US design. Anyone with ideas? This reminds me of deadend I met with this Cuban tug . . .
Yaman is a 2011 China built tug registered in Chile.
Smit Guadeloupe here assists MSC Channe.
In the container port of Balboa and awaiting orders lie (l to r) Smit Grenada, Smit Dane (maybe), Smit Balboa, and Smit Curaçao.
Don Lucho is Netherlands Damen built 2008 and now sailing under the flag of Colombia, literally.
All photos by Will Van Dorp.
tugster: a waterblog 
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March 15, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Judy Balk
Nice to see Cuban landmarks again. Going in the fall again. Judy⚓️
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March 15, 2018 at 1:22 pm
George Schneider
I’m no help with PIPSA I. She’s off the same tree as the 74-foot Army ST’s of design 257, but I can’t find one with her exact outfitting. Many Gulf-built tugs for private owners had those lines, too. I hope someone is more useful than I am.