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First electric tugboat among six delivered to Port of Antwerp Bruges
Towage at a major port in northern Europe will be enhanced with the delivery of six newbuild harbour tugs of IMO Tier III compliance, including one with batteries on board
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has welcomed delivery of six reverse stern drive (RSD) tugboats, including one operating on batteries, port to boost ship handling and towage.
Damen Shipyards delivered six tugs built to its RSD 2513 design in Vietnam from a heavy lift cargo ship. The new tugs will enable the Belgian port authority to reduce emissions from manoeuvring and docking ships.
One of these RSD tugs has an energy storage system on board with enough charge to undertake a minimum of two towage operations on a single charge, and has up to 70 tons of bollard pull.
Volta 1 can be fully recharged in just two hours from a new 1.5-MW charger and onshore electric infrastructure that Damen was contracted to also deliver and commission.
The other five tugboats are more efficient in ship handling and towage than existing vessels and have Damen’s NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions reduction systems to be compliant with IMO Tier III emissions standards. RSD tugs are designed with a dual-bow principle, making them exceptionally manoeuvrable and versatile for both forward and backward towing operations.
These newbuild tugs are part of Port of Antwerp-Bruges fleet renewal and strategy to lower pollution and CO2 emissions from its harbour operations.
This also includes converting existing tonnage to run on clean, alternative fuels, such as biofuels.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges already operates the world’s first hydrogen-fuelled tugboat, CMB’s Hydrotug 1, and the first methanol-powered tugboat, Methatug. These initiatives and the latest newbuilds delivery focuses on the renewal and sustainability of the port’s fleet, which accounts for nearly 85% of port-related CO2 emissions.
“With this new generation of energy-efficient tugboats, we take a significant step forward in our transition to a climate-neutral fleet,” Port of Antwerp-Bruges chief operational officer Rob Smeets said. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to sustainable innovation. Volta 1 is a groundbreaking addition to our fleet and a beacon for the entire maritime sector.”
The electric tug is one of the first of its kind operating in Europe. The first was BB Electra, working in the Oslo area in Norway since mid-2024.
“The arrival of these new tugboats marks a new chapter in the sustainability of our port and strengthens our position as the economic engine of Flanders,” said Johan Klaps, port alderman of the City of Antwerp.
“Just like with Hydrotug and Methatug, Volta 1 once again confirms our pioneering role in the energy transition and environmentally friendly shipping.”
This broad scope of Damen’s deliverables additionally includes its ongoing technical support, covering every phase from delivery and start-up to maintenance management and the standard 1-year Damen warranty.
This support includes an extensive training package with simulator-based, technical, and onboard training, initiated in advance to prepare crews for the arrival of all new vessels. The training programme is set to continue over the next five years.
The six tug newbuilds formed part of a shipment of vessels transported from Damen’s yard in Vietnam aboard Jumbo Kinetic.
Upon arrival in North Sea harbour of Vlissingen, the Netherlands, the heavy lift vessel was greeted by tugs from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and escorted along the Western Scheldt river on its final approach to the Belgian port.
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