Tug Malta christens its new eco-friendly tug built by Damen

Tug Malta has named its newest eco-friendly vessel, a Damen RSD Tug 2513, which is expected to ‘add strength’ to the company’s operations in Malta’s Port of Marsaxlokk.

As informed, the new tug, which delivers more than 80 tonnes of bollard pull, has been christened the Med Aldebaran. Damen and Tug Malta reportedly signed the contract for the ship in March this year.

Following the completion of the construction at the Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam—where Europe’s ‘first’ all-electric tug was launched in April 2024—the unit sailed to Malta on its own keel, via the Cape of Good Hope.

The RSD Tug 2513 is described as a “compact, maneuverable” vessel that combines elements of azimuth stern drive (ASD) and tractor tugs to deliver an ‘always bow first’ approach to towage.

Concerning Med Aldebaran, Damen elaborated that the tug was outfitted with a Damen Marine NOx Reduction System. Owing to this selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, the vessel’s performance is believed to be compliant with IMO Tier III requirements.

Moreover, the resulting lower nitrogen oxide and noise emissions are said to aid the ship in “contributing to a more sustainable maritime sector.”

As per the Dutch shipbuilding heavyweight, Med Aldebaran also possesses FiFi1 firefighting capabilities.

As an additional ‘boost’ to efficiency, the newbuilding is reportedly installed with Damen Triton—an Internet of Things (IoT) solution that collects and analyzes data gathered from sensors all around the vessel, providing the crew with the information they need to sail in the ‘most optimal’ fashion.

It is understood that Med Aldebaran is one in a series of Damen tugs in Tug Malta’s fleet. This includes ASD Tugs and another RSD Tug 2513 that the shipbuilder handed over back in 2021, soon after which the Maltese business came under the ownership of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) MedTug Group.

Reflecting on the occasion of the naming ceremony, Damen’s Global Sales & Marketing Advisor Antonio Marte expressed gratitude for the “trust that Tug Malta and MedTug had instilled in Damen”.

“It is a privilege to stand here today, as we celebrate the delivery and naming of Med Aldebaran – a vessel embodying innovation, sustainability, and partnership. The vessel continues a legacy of trust and collaboration between our companies,” he highlighted.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Robert Abela put under the spotlight the ‘critical’ need for Malta to develop a fully integrated maritime hub and stressed that the green investment in the tug aligns with the country’s vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

“The Grand Harbour boasts prime sites with immense potential, and it is crucial that we take decisive action to transform these areas. By strengthening infrastructure, attracting investment, and fostering opportunities for services of all sizes, we can unlock this potential and drive sustainable economic growth,” he remarked.

Giacomo Gavarone, International Managing Director of MedTug further commented, “I would also like to mention that Med Aldebaran is the first tug in our fleet equipped with IMO Tier III Technology. This represents an important first step for the reduction in the emissions of our fleet according to our commitment to a better world, and to helping achieve the government’s vision for carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Over the course of this year, Damen teamed up with numerous industry players that showed interest in adding environmentally friendly tugs to their fleets.

For instance, in November 2024, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges bid a welcome to six new energy-efficient tugboats. The units are said to be fitted with “an advanced exhaust gas after-treatment system and energy-efficient design” to minimize emissions and fuel consumption.

Just days before that, Dutch towage and salvage company Multraship Towage & Salvage christened the Multratug 36, a 32-meter tug designed according to Damen’s ASD Tug 3212 specifications. The ship is expected to accomplish an 80% NOx reduction compared to IMO Tier II.