Svitzer and MAN Energy Solutions will trial a methanol-fuelled combustion engine on a new design of tugboat to reduce harbour towage emissions
Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two Danish companies, MAN will further develop its dual-fuel MAN 175DF-M engine and test it on one of Svitzer’s newbuild tugs.
Both companies are finalising a field-test agreement, which will focus on details of the fuel-supply system, engineroom design, exhaust aftertreatment and engine performance optimisation.
Svitzer has a long-standing relationship with MAN Energy Solutions and in 2023 selected MAN 175D engines for its new TRAnsverse tug design.
The first TRAnsverse is scheduled to enter service this year and two are on order for delivery, ready to use methanol fuel, for operations in an Australian port in 2025.
“At Svitzer, we have set ambitious yet realistic, long-term targets to decarbonise our operations,” said Svitzer chief operating officer Kasper Karlsen.
“In 2023, we reduced the CO2 intensity of our global fleet by 24% and we are committed to making further progress through the use of low-carbon fuels like methanol, innovative engine technologies and continuous changes of behaviour,” he added.
“The MoU signed with MAN represents an exciting opportunity to jointly secure valuable field experience focusing on the use of dual-fuel methanol engines within our fleet.”
Svitzer developed the TRAnsverse tug jointly with Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd and the first of these tugs was built and launched by Sanmar Shipyards in 2023.
MAN has developed the dual-fuel engine series to provide flexibility in fuel sources and vessel operation, enabling tugs to use methanol when available, or diesel where it is not.
“Svitzer has been working on its own low-emissions concept for some time and this agreement brings this to the next level,” said MAN Energy Solutions senior vice president Alexander Knafl.
“Thus, the agreed timeline serves both companies’ targets very well. Svitzer’s tug operation is a strong candidate for field-testing our newly developed MAN 175DF-M engine.”
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