A memorandum of understanding has been signed between energy company Mabanaft Group and Fairplay Towage that should result in tugs running on hydrogen in the Port of Hamburg.
Mabanaft supplies marine fuels and operates tank terminals at the port, where its range of fuels will be supplemented by hydrogen to be stored in its tanks, presumably.
“To enable the use of hydrogen-powered tugs, not only hydrogen but also the corresponding infrastructure for bunkering must be provided,” said Volker Ebeling, senior vice president New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure at Mabanaft.
“Hydrogen is considered one of the keys to the decarbonisation of the shipping sector, as it offers an emission-free alternative to conventional fossil fuels. This agreement with Fairplay Towage is an important step on the road to achieving carbon neutral shipping in the port of Hamburg and we are proud to be working together to decarbonise the industry.”
In November 2022, Mabanaft announced its intention to build an ammonia import terminal in the Port of Hamburg, the first step in the development of New Energy Gate, a terminal for sustainable hydrogen products that will make it possible for Hamburg to import large quantities of climate-friendly energy.
The new tugs will be commissioned in 2025 under the MoU.
