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Methanol-fuelled tugs to begin operations in 2026
ITS editor: in 2026, the tug and towage sector will discover how methanol can become a credible alternative fuel to diesel
Shipyards are set to complete the first newbuild tugs with dual-fuel or single-fuel methanol engines, enabling owners to see first-hand how they compare with tugboats fuelled by diesel and biodiesel in power, performance, reliability, sustainability and emissions.
These tugs will be test cases that the whole industry will follow, to decide whether to order newbuildings with the structure and technology needed to store and combust methanol fuels.
Owners will be watching closely to discover whether the additional investment is worthwhile in terms of reduced emissions, and to see how these tugs work in busy ports and in ship escort.
All eyes will be on Gothenburg, Sweden, in May this year, as Svitzer demonstrates the world’s first battery-hybrid tugboat with methanol-burning engines at Riviera’s 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards.
Progress on this newbuilding suggests Svitzer Balder will be ready at the harbour for visitors and be able to handle ships, including Maersk’s methanol-fuelled container carriers, in the Swedish port.
In January, Uzmar launched the 35-m tug at its shipyard in Turkey and started outfitting it before sea trials. It is built to a TRAnsverse design, developed by Svitzer and Robert Allan Ltd, with a 6,000-kWh battery system, two 350-kW methanol engines, and a 2,000-kW diesel engine, plus a bollard pull of 85 tonnes.
The Copenhagen, Denmark-headquartered owner said it is the largest, most complex and powerful harbour tug it has ever built, weighing 1,070 tonnes without batteries or full equipment.
Another Turkish shipbuilder, Sanmar Shipyards, has completed two methanol-powered escort tugs – SD Aisemaht and SD Qwiy Aanitsa Sarah – for Kotug Canada’s operations in British Columbia.
These 44-m tugs are built to Robert Allan’s RASalvor 4400-DFM design with around 120 tonnes of bollard pull and firefighting and oil-spill response equipment on board to provide long-range ship towing, anchor-handling, rescue and salvage.
Their propulsion includes twin methanol dual-fuel engines and Schottel’s Sydrive-M mechanical hybrid propulsion, consisting of two SRP 710 azimuth thrusters that can be driven by just one of the two high-speed main engines.
As they are almost completed, their crews have been trained on simulators, and these tugs are scheduled to come into service in Q2 2026, providing insight into operations in different marine conditions.
It may take a full year of service to test all their capabilities, and if they meet or exceed expectations, there will be calls for more methanol-fuelled tugs and workboats.
As owners, naval architects and shipyards gain a greater understanding of how to build and operate these vessels, orders will follow as the towage sector needs to meet decarbonisation challenges.
These newbuilds aim to demonstrate that methanol is a viable alternative and can also work in combination with other decarbonisation technologies, such as mechanical-hybrid and battery-powered propulsion. ITS is looking forward to seeing Svitzer Balder in action.
The 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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