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UAE port's electric tug achieves world record
An electric-powered tugboat has demonstrated high bollard pull from its battery systems and azimuth thrusters during trials in the UAE
Abu Dhabi Ports Group subsidiary Safeen Group has taken delivery of the world’s most powerful electric tugboat at Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates. Following sea trials, this 2024-built vessel achieved an average high-peak bollard pull of 78.2 tonnes, which makes it the most powerful electric tugboat in the world. This was validated and awarded by Guinness World Records.
Bu Tinah was built by Damen Shipyards as a reverse stern drive (RSD) tugboat at Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam and transferred to the Albwardy Damen Shipyard in Sharjah, where it was initially presented at an event linked to Riviera’s International Tug & Salvage (ITS) Convention.
After final commissioning, testing and crew familiarisation, this 25-m, RSD-E 2513 design tug was sailed to Khalifa Port for trials and is now being used to handle and berth ships.
It is being operated under its battery-electric hybrid propulsion until a planned shore power installation is built.
Bu Tinah has a beam of 13 m, a bollard pull of around 70 tonnes, a draught of around 6 m and a top speed of 12 knots. It is the first all-electric harbour tug of its kind in the Middle East and contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of port operations while offering a cost-effective alternative to diesel-powered vessels due to lower maintenance expenditure.
"This record achievement demonstrates the transition to alternative energy does not come at the cost of performance," said AD Ports Group chief executive of the maritime and shipping cluster, Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba.
"The first electric tug in the Middle East is also making waves on a global level with this accolade. It improves the sustainability of our operations alongside cost efficiencies in terms of overall fuel savings, which is extremely important," he said. "This vessel is now a key component of our marine services fleet and our electrification strategy."
Damen Shipyards group chief executive Arnout Damen said Bu Tinah is "driving us towards a more sustainable marine industry."
Bu Tinah is the second battery-electric tugboat Damen has built and commissioned following Sparky, another RSD-E 2513 tug operating in New Zealand. A third is on its way to northern Europe to be operated in Antwerp, Belgium.
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