Hong Kong commissions LNG dual-fuel tug duo

Hongkong Salvage & Towage Services has held a commissioning ceremony for the first two locally licensed liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel tugs in Hong Kong.

Each of the two newly commissioned tugs has an overall length of 42 meters, a beam of 16 meters, and a gross tonnage of 1,275 tons. The vessels’ names are LNG Sentinel I and LNG Sentinel II.

The tugs are equipped with two electric motor-driven azimuth thrusters with an aggregate power of 6,000 kilowatts and a maximum speed of 14 knots.

With a view to supporting the development needs and enhancing the long-term competitiveness of the marine industry, the Hong Kong Government published the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy in December 2023, outlining four directions and 10 strategies.

The aim is to support the development of a green port towards a zero-carbon target by studying the feasibility of the provision of green fuel bunkering for local vessels and ocean-going vessels.

The government also published an action plan for Hong Kong’s development into a green maritime fuel-bunkering center this year. 

Furthermore, the Shipping Legislation (Use of Fuels and Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024 was introduced into the Legislative Council this month to back the safe use of new fuels such as LNG by vessels.

“The Government is committed to transforming the city into a green port and promoting the use of more environmentally friendly new fuels with less or zero-carbon emissions to replace marine petroleum fuels commonly used by vessels nowadays,” Deputy Director of Marine Department, Shi Qiang, said.

“The commissioning of the first two locally licensed tugs equipped with dual-fuel engine systems marks a new milestone that helps encourage more local vessels to use new fuels and move towards the International Maritime Organization’s target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050.”

“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the industry to jointly promote and achieve the goal of green and sustainable development in the shipping industry,” Qiang concluded.