Sanmar’s all-electric tug – a progress report

The report reflects on the increasing confidence owners and operators have with a somewhat revolutionary development in an area of the shipping industry more commonly associated with powerful fossil-fuelled vessels.

It is nearly 10 months since the Robert Allan-designed, Sanmar exclusive ElectRA 2200SX BB Electra, Europe’s first fully electric tug, entered service in the Port of Oslo for Norway’s Buksér og Berging. In that time the vessel tug has completed 81 towage operations during 835 running hours.

Tug owners are now faced with a number of choices when contemplating new tonnage in a world where the demand to reduce emissions and deliver greater efficiencies has led to the development of various alternative fuel options.

The choice will be influenced by individual operational circumstances, including the availability of the fuel stock. LNG-powered escort tugs, for example, have found a place servicing LNG terminals, where the fuel is readily available.

It is clear that along with other tug designers and shipyards, the option of vessels powered either fully or partly by battery is providing a suitable choice for particular locations and operational profiles.

Increasing demand

First unveiled in 2021, seven ElectRA tugs are now in operation in Europe and North America. They include Sparky, built by Damen Shipyards for Ports of Auckland in New Zealand and based on the builder’s RSD Tug 2513 design.

An eighth ElectRA tug was launched recently by Sanmar and will become the first to operate in Latin America.

The ElectRA series is available in a range of sizes from 19-29m in length and with power outputs of 40-80tbp. BB Electra has 1,718kWh of battery power and can achieve a bollard pull ahead of 45 tons and speed 11.8kn. Basic dimensions include 22.2m LOA (excluding fenders) and a moulded breadth of 10.84 and the vessel has accommodation for a crew of three.

For owner Buksér og Berging, BB Electra is another example of its reputation for an environmentally aware approach, having previously taken delivery from Sanmar of the IMO Tier III emissions-compliant sister escort tugs Bamse and Bob along with Borgøy and Bokn, the world’s first two purely LNG-fuelled tugs.

Sanmar says it has taken a strategic decision to research, develop and build tugs utilising alternative fuels and innovative technological advances to protect the environment and build a sustainable tug and towing industry.

Rüçhan Çıvgın, commercial director of Sanmar Shipyards, said: “We are proud to be leading the way. We have seen our electric tugboats become the first to operate in North America, Latin America, and Europe.

“We are also working with our partners to design and build tugs that use other alternative fuels. These are exciting times for our industry.”