VIDEO: First methanol tug launched in Antwerp
The world’s first tug to be powered by methanol was launched yesterday at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Part of the European-Union-funded Fastwater project, Methatug’s engines have been converted to dual-fuel capability, running on a mixture of diesel and methanol.
According to a statement, she can store 12,000 litres of methanol, which is enough for two weeks’ work. She has a length of 29.5 metres, weighs 584 tons and has a 50t bollard pull.
Fastwater aims to demonstrate the feasibility of methanol as a fuel for the shipping industry, and a number of other partners included Swedish ship design agency ScandiNAOS; Belgian engine manufacturer Angle Belgian Corporation; German methanol injectors company Heinzmann; UK emission monitoring specialists at Ghent University; and Canadian methanol supplier Methanex.
Truck-to-ship bunkering will be provided at the port by De Wit Bunkering.
The port aims to make a range of fuels available alongside diesel, including methanol, hydrogen and electricity.
”The Methatug is a new and essential step in our efforts to make our own fleet greener and become climate neutral by 2020,” said port CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “Thanks to projects auch as this, we are paving the way and hope to be an example and a source of inspiration for other ports.”
”The fact we are able to announce another world premier in the field of clean energy is fantastic news for our port and for the shipping industry in general,” said Antwerp vice-mayor and president ot the port’s board of directors Annick De Ridder.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has placed itself at the forefront of ‘greening’ its fleet, launching CMB-Tech’s Hydrotug last November.
Hydrotug is also a dual-fuel vessel, with medium speed engines – each providing 2MW – with the latest EU Stage V emissions after treatment system.
“Just like with Hydrotug, the world’s first hydrogen-powered tugboat, this project confirms our pioneering role in the field of energy transition,” said De Ridder. ”The ecosystem of our port platform forms an ideal, large-scale testing ground for this.”
Methatug is not the only vessel to be converted to alternative fuels by partners in the Fastwater project: in Germany a river cruise ship will be converted along with a pilot boat in Sweden and a coast guard vessel in Greece.
