Order placed for ‘world’s first’ battery electric methanol tug

Global towage provider Svitzer has signed a contract with Turkish shipyard Uzmar Shipbuilding for the construction of the “world-first” battery electric methanol tug.

Designed in collaboration with naval architect Robert Allan, the 34.9-meter-long tug will feature a 6MWh battery supported by dual-fuel methanol engines for backup and range extension. The vessel will deliver a bollard pull ahead of 85 tonnes and utilize escort steering and braking forces rated at 150 and 200 tonnes, respectively, measured at 10 knots.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 806 tonnes and powered by a 6MWh battery system, the escort duty tug will be capable of achieving speeds of up to 14 knots, according to Svitzer.

The ship is expected to conduct more than 90% of its operations using the battery-electric powertrain and conduct up to 25% of Svitzer’s work in the Port of Gothenburg.

Svitzer expects that its TRAnsverse tug design will allow the battery-powered tug to operate more efficiently than internal combustion engine-powered tugs of a traditional design.

“Applications for battery solutions are constantly expanding, and we see it becoming an important power option in the sustainability transition. This battery tug will bring a new dynamic to our operations,” Kasper Nilaus, CEO of Svitzer, said.

Nilaus noted that “there is no one-size-fits-all solution” for the company to meet its ambitious decarbonization targets but with this new power technology “we have yet another option for how to significantly reduce emissions across the many global ports and terminals we operate in”. 

“In this way, we continue to develop our strategies for fleet-wide decarbonisation while constantly ensuring sustainable, safe and reliable marine services to Svitzer customers,” he highlighted.

“The launch of a first-of-its-kind newbuild project with our partners at Uzmar Shipyard is a significant milestone for our decarbonisation ambitions. We are proud of the work we have done with our technology suppliers and engineering consultants to develop the tug to this point. The battery electric tug will mean we can deliver our services to customers in the Port of Gothenburg with significantly lower carbon emissions, and still to the highest operational and safety standards,” Gareth Prowse, Head of Decarbonisation at Svitzer, commented on the contract.

“At Uzmar, we recognise the importance of reducing carbon emissions in the maritime sector, and we are fully aligned with Svitzer’s ambitious decarbonisation strategy. This project represents a significant step forward in that journey. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, we are not just building a tug; we are helping to shape the future of green maritime operations,” A. Noyan Altug, CEO of Uzmar, stated.

In March this year, Svitzer signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with German engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES)  for the development of a methanol-fueled version of the MAN 175D engine for newbuild tugs.

The global towage provider, which has 430 vessels operating in 140+ ports and 25+ oil and gas terminals globally, has been part of the Maersk Group of companies for more than 40 years. The company was recently separated from the Danish shipping and logistics major through a demerger.