The world’s first methanol-powered harbour tug is set to enter service within months after its engines were installed in November
Port of Antwerp-Bruges will be trialling the bunkering and burning of methanol on one of its existing tugs during 2023 to demonstrate its feasibility as a sustainable marine fuel.
Anglo Belgian Corp (ABC) has converted the harbour tug renamed Methatug into a green-fuel demonstrator with support from the port authority and funding from the European Union (EU).
ABC has removed the vessel’s existing engines and replaced them with dual-fuel engines able to burn methanol and diesel to generate power for turning the tug’s thrusters.
The first engine was installed on the tugboat on 21 November, which both ABC and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges cited as a key milestone in the ground-breaking project. The second dual-fuel engine was installed a few days later. ABC was also responsible for installing the methanol tanks, pipes and associated machinery and equipment on Methatug.
Also involved in the project were Belgian engineering company Multi, which carried out the feasibility study, German company Heinzmann to adapt the fuel injectors and Swedish shipbuilder Scandinaos, which designed the vessel’s modifications.
The Methatug conversion is part of the European Fastwater project and funded by the EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges expects the tugboat will mainly run on methanol when it is back in operation to handle ships in its harbours and terminals, “reducing its CO2 emissions significantly”. The port operator says the project demonstrates it is spearheading the sustainable future for harbour operations in Belgium.
“It is yet another important step towards greening our fleet,” said the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. “It also illustrates our ambition to become a multi-fuel port by 2025.”
The port authority intends to offer bunkering of various fuels, including heavy fuel oil, methanol, hydrogen and potentially ammonia to different sections of the maritime industry within three years.
This is the second green-tug project Port of Antwerp-Bruges is involved in as it welcomed arrival of Hydrotug 1, the world’s first hydrogen-powered harbour tugboat, in November.
This 496-gt tug was built at Armón Shipyards in Navia, Spain and it arrived in the port of Ostend on 27 October, where it will be fitted with a hydrogen system.
Following the installation and testing, the aim is to have the Hydrotug 1 fully operational in Antwerp in Q1 2023.
Hydrotug 1 was developed by CMB.Tech to store 415 kg of compressed hydrogen in six tanks installed on deck. Its propulsion configuration consists of two BeHydro V12 dual-fuel, medium-speed engines that can run on both hydrogen and diesel fuel.
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