The tug, Volta 1, was delivered in December 2024 as the first of six, all built to a similar design as part of the port’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Developed with Damen, Volta 1 is a Reversed Stern Drive tug designed on a double bow principle, and is equipped with a Twin Fin skeg for optimal stability and manoeuvrability.
The vessel is 25 metres long, 13 metres wide and weighs 607 tons. She is powered by 2.8MWh of lithium titanium oxide batteries that can charge in two hours to give 12 hours’ sailing, a statement from the port said. the vessel has 70 tons of bollard pull.
Charging is available at Antwerp, which says it aims to become a multi-fuel port, having tested hydrogen and methanol bunkering for tugs as well as bio- and conventional fuels. It can afford the space to do so, as the fifth largest bunker port in the world, while smaller ports might have more difficulties accommodating so many different fuels.
“Achieving this European first in the year when we are also celebrating 150 years of tug service makes it both symbolic and historic,” said Johan Klaps, president of the board at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
“As a global port, we are taking our responsibility to pull the maritime sector into the energy transition,” said Jacques Vandermeiren, the port CEO. “The Volta 1, together with the Hydrotug, Methatug and RSD tugs, represents a tangible step towards a climate-neutral port by 2050.”
