Auramarine’s methanol FSS picked for ‘world’s first methanol-powered tugs’

Finnish fuel supply systems specialist Auramarine has been contracted to provide its methanol fuel supply system (FSS) for the “world’s first methanol-powered tugs”.

As informed, the tugs are owned by Kotug Canada and will be built by Turkish Sanmar Shipyards. The methanol supply systems will be installed on two large dual-fuelled methanol tugs. The keel for the ships was laid in May 2024.

The tugs are based on the RAsalvor 4400-DFM design by Robert Allan, measuring 44 meters in length, with the capability to operate in some of the harshest environments in the world, according to the company.

They will serve Canada’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) and will escort tankers from the harbor limits of Vancouver to the open Pacific Ocean through the commercial shipping lanes of the Salish Sea.

The vessels, dubbed the most powerful escort tugs in Canada, capable of achieving a massive 120 tonnes of bollard pull, are scheduled to enter service in 2025.

They will also provide significant environmental and ecological benefits through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and underwater radiated noise.

“We are very pleased to work with Sanmar Shipyards, which is one of the leading tugboat builders in the world. We are delighted to be part of this unique project and are committed to supporting our clients on their decarbonisation journey. Auramarine’s tailormade design always ensures that our customers are provided with optimum solutions for their specific ship types and fleet requirements,” John Bergman, CEO,Auramarine, said.

“Sanmar Shipyards, together with Auramarine, is contributing to a sustainable shipping industry with the world’s first large purpose-built dual fuel methanol escort tugs. This is a great opportunity for both companies to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys, innovate and build something totally new to support the industry going forward,” Hakan TUNÇ, Engineering Director at Sanmar Shipyards, continued

The agreement was signed at this year’s SMM Hamburg fair. In a separate statement, Auramarine also revealed that it has launched an ammonia system to accelerate the energy transition and support the industry in meeting its decarbonization targets.

The launch is in line with Auramarine’s commitment to supporting its clients in meeting their sustainability and decarbonization targets, regardless of fuel choice.

This is a natural continuation of Auramarine’s green strategy, which started with biofuels and continued with the launch of the methanol fuel system in 2022, the firm emphasized.

The ammonia system is designed in adherence to all safety, design and material requirements. It is suitable for both two-stroke and four-stroke engines as well as other ammonia consumers. Safety measures include gas and leak detection, ammonia capture, reliquefying and ammonia release mitigation (ARMS) functions.

Full and ongoing training in the safe use and operation of the system will also be provided to all clients as part of Auramarine’s lifecycle services offering, the firm concluded.

“Ammonia offers a zero-carbon pathway to shipping’s net zero transition and, as experts in fuel supply systems for the last 50 years, we see it as our role in making its adoption a safe and viable reality. That’s why we’re pleased to launch our Ammonia Fuel System,” John Bergman, CEO, Auramarine, said.

“In navigating the energy transition’s unknowns, experience and collaboration matter. That’s why we’ve spent significant efforts in developing this system and working with industry partners to ensure long-term performance, safety and reliability, as well as ease of use.”