Damen passes fully electric tug milestone

Its Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam has launched a Damen-designed reverse stern drive (RSD) tug it is building for New Zealand’s Ports of Auckland.

This vessel, to be named Sparky, was constructed to an RSD-E Tug 2513 design with an overall length of 25 m and beam of around 13 m. It will have bollard pull of around 70 tonnes for towing and handling a variety of ships entering and departing Auckland.

After its launch, Damen will install propulsion systems and additional hardware, then commission the harbour tug. It expects Sparky to be delivered to Ports of Auckland by the end of 2021.

This tug is part of Ports of Auckland’s strategy to become a zero-emissions organisation by 2040.

With this project, Damen is demonstrating the economic viability of building a fully electric ship-handling tug.

“With 40% of New Zealand’s energy generated from sustainable sources – including 80% of electricity – Sparky offers the chance to complete the sustainable circle in Ports of Auckland’s tug operations,” said Damen Asia Pacific sales manager Sjoerd de Bruin.

“Since receiving the order for this historic vessel, we have been working towards this moment – the introduction of the first fully electric tug of this capability to the water,” he continued. “We are looking forward to continuing in our task and completing the vessel in the coming months.”

This RSD-E 2513 tug is just one example of Damen’s work towards building vessels for more sustainability in maritime. Earlier in 2020, it delivered several electric-propulsion vessels, including its first fully electric cutter suction dredger.

Damen has also delivered several electric and hybrid ferries to Denmark and Canada.

During Q4 2020, Damen secured a contract for the delivery of nine hybrid and fully electric ferries to operate in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Fully electric vessel design and construction will be discussed in depth during Riviera’s Maritime Hybrid & Electric, Europe virtual conference, 9-11 December 2020 - use this link for more details and to register for this event