They will present JMS Sunshine, built in Singapore as a single-fuel, gas-powered harbour tug with hybrid propulsion, as the first of a fleet of LNG battery-hybrid tugs to replace the ageing diesel tugs currently supporting local port operations.

The new vessels were designed by naval architects at Norway’s LMG Marin for Jurong Marine Services (JMS), both subsidiaries of Seatrium, to meet all requirements for a tugboat with 65-tonnes of bollard pull, in terms of reliability, ease of operation, dynamic vessel performance and very low emissions levels.

JMS Sunshine** meets IMO Tier III emission requirements without the need for any additional exhaust gas aftertreatment system and has virtually no soot emissions.

It has Rolls-Royce mtu 4000 series M55RN pure gas engines with 16-cylinders in V formation, Spear Power System’s Trident lithium-ion batteries and Schottel’s hybrid drive system, Sydrive-E and azimuth SRP 430 rudderpropellers.

The technical paper will outline the background of the project, describe the design process and detail the integration of the mtu 16V4000M55RN engines into this sophisticated vessel.

Both speakers will highlight the joint efforts made to optimise the propulsion train to meet the demanding requirements of harbour tug operation.

They will also analyse the performance of JMS Sunshine compared to environmental impact predictions and assess the viability for broader adoption of LNG hybrid propulsion in harbour towage markets.

Following the presentation of their paper, Mr Halbauer and Mr Nirmal will participate in an extended panel discussion on transition pathways for tugs alongside Smit Lamnalco global director for LNG business and project development Andrew Brown, Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel general manager and chief operating officer Mark Bell and Wilson Sons executive director of tugboats Márcio Castro.