Tug owners have begun investing in electric-powered tugs for harbour operations, and some have selected a preferred alternative fuel to cut emissions
Options for removing CO2 emissions and other pollutants from tugboat exhausts are growing, as is pressure for vessel owners to minimise their environmental footprint. While there is still uncertainty as to the best solutions for retrofits and newbuildings, there are indications which will become the most popular.
Batteries are regularly being added to newbuild harbour tugs, pusher boats and vessels built for inland waterways transport. Three of the tugs shortlisted for ITS Awards 2024, completed in the past few months, are all-electric, zero-emissions, battery-powered vessels – Crowley’s eWolf in the US and SAAM Towage’s SAAM Volta and Chief Dan George in western Canada.
Sanmar Shipyards has built the most electric tugs, with five delivered to HaiSea Marine and SAAM Towage in British Columbia, another completed for Norwegian owner Bukser og Berging and one launched for Sanmar’s own fleet. More orders are coming from SAAM Towage and other operators for 2024 and 2025 deliveries.
Damen Shipyards has also started its drive to build battery-powered reverse stern drive and azimuth stern drive tugs after the successful delivery of Sparky in 2022 and has obtained orders from Boluda Towage and Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian shipbuilders have produced electric-powered tugs and next up will be India, the Netherlands and the UK – batteries are becoming a global solution.
Battery-electric or hybrid propulsion appears to be a way forward for harbour operations, but to extend their range, low-emissions fuels in generator sets, combustion engines or fuel cells may also be needed.
Methanol is emerging as the winning fuel, with increasing numbers of tugs and towboats ordered and being constructed ready to use this fuel in parallel with diesel in dual-fuel engines, which original manufacturers have developed, tested and trialled. The first methanol dual-fuel escort and harbour tugs are set to depart shipyards in 2025.
Looking at the ITS Tug of the Year shortlisted nominees, it is clear there is still potential for other fuels such as LNG where there is local supply. There could be a future for hydrogen with Port of Antwerp-Bruges introducing Hydrotug 1 in Antwerp, Belgium in December 2023, but other operators believe storage and handling challenges are too high for its commercial use.
Japan and the US have been testing ammonia on tugs, but this toxic fuel comes with safety and handling issues. A regional market may develop for ethanol in South America due to its mass production potential. But it is methanol that is seen as a key fuel for tugs.
Owners investing in battery and methanol-ready tugs have been shortlisted for ITS Tug Owner of the Year 2024.
Nominees have also been shortlisted for Innovation of the Year, Salvage Company of the Year, Safety Award and Ports & Harbours Award.
Voting is open to all until 16 May, and the winners will be presented with awards during the gala dinner at the finale of the 27th ITS Convention in Dubai, UAE, running 21-23 May.
Industry will celebrate technical achievements and future trends in the tug, towage and salvage sector and gain greater insight into decarbonisation technologies.
The 27th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in association with Caterpillar in Dubai, UAE, 21-23 May 2024. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities; and this link to book your ticket for the exhibition, social gatherings and awards night.
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