Boluda Towage Europe has secured a concession to provide ship assistance in the Port of Zeebrugge
This tug owner will provide towage to ships berthing and undocking at the port for five years, from January 2021, using green-emissions tugs.
This concession is the renewal of an existing partnership between Port of Zeebrugge, in Belgium, and Boluda Towage Europe, but it will involve investment in tug enginerooms.
In total, eight tugboats will be put into action in the Port of Zeebrugge.
These are all certified with the highest fire extinguishing standards and manned with local crew.
“The renewal of the partnership with Boluda Towage Europe means that a correct, loyal and professional service will be continued, and that we can further promote sustainable shipping in the Port of Zeebrugge,” said Port of Zeebrugge chief executive Rik Goetinck.
“The initiatives of Boluda Towage Europe perfectly match our clean port strategy, and their long-term knowledge about the port ensures smooth and safe shipping,” said Mr Goetinck.
Boluda Towage Europe will invest in its tugs to bring them up to IMO Tier III emission standards during the concession period.
It retrofitted Union Koala tug to IMO Tier III standards in 2019. Boluda Towage Europe will retrofit the Union Panda this year.
The emissions of the remaining tugboats will be reduced in the first two years of the contract. As such, emissions of nitrogen oxides will be reduced by 80% from this tug fleet.
Shore power will also become the norm for moored tugboats, so that these can switch off their engines when inactive and during the rest-period of the crew.
Boluda Towage Europe’s chief executive Geert Vandecappelle thanked the crews of these tugs for their service so far and ongoing during the concession.
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