VESSELS

Svitzer wins prize for its Thames tugs

3 years ago

Svitzer has achieved gold status in Port of London Authority’s (PLA) Thames Green Scheme, which recognises towage operators’ environmental commitments and decarbonisation strategies.

Svitzer's Dave Watson (left) and Cliff Chow (right) with Grace Staines from PLA's environmental team (PLA)

Launched in 2020, PLA’s Thames Green Scheme recognises early adopters of new technologies and fuels aimed at improving the environment for people and wildlife.

Svitzer had already notched up a success with the scheme, and following the adoption of marine biofuel and use of shore power for six vessels based at the authority’s operations site at Denton near Gravesend, has progressed from silver to gold status.

Efforts aimed at creating a greener image are not new within the global towage industry and Svitzer has made notable strides in this area. In 2022 it introduced carbon neutral biofuel across its Thames-based fleet via a new service called EcoTow. The scheme uses sustainable second-generation biofuels, produced from waste material including cooking oil and following successful trials EcoTow is now an add-on sold by Svitzer to all customers for all ports providing them with credible proof of their sustainability efforts.

Other related efforts by Svitzer include announcing the world’s first fuel cell tug running on green methanol and the next generation Robert Allan Ltd TRAnsverse tug, set to be the ground design for the methanol fuel cell tug.

The Thames Green Scheme is voluntary and free-of-charge for all commercial and service vessel operators to demonstrate their environmental performance. It follows PLA’s Thames Vision 2050 programme launched in 2022 with the goal to remain the UK’s leading port, PLA itself targeting net zero in its own operations by 2040 or earlier.

Cliff Chow, Svitzer’s London port manager said: “It is a great honour for Svitzer to be awarded the Thames Green Scheme gold accreditation. Environmental responsibility is deeply integrated in our strategy, and we invest significantly in finding the right paths to meeting our ambitious decarbonisation targets. This gold status is a nice testament to the strides we are making.”

Alistair Gale, PLA’s director of corporate affairs and strategy said: “It is great to see a global organisation like Svitzer leading the way in adopting new technologies, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions. This is good news for the tidal Thames, home to the UK’s leading port, where we are driving together towards a net zero future.”