Methanol tug first will clean up Canadian shipping lanes

The RAsalvor 4400-DFM dual fuel methanol escort tugs, designed Robert Allan Ltd, will service the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) reducing shipping emissions through the commercial shipping lanes of the Salish Sea.

“I am honoured to ink the contract of these unique first methanol fuelled new-build tugboats in the world,” said Ali Gurun, chairman of Sanmar Shipyards.

“We have been building over the years the new generation of cleaner and greener tugboats to meet the environmental targets in the maritime industry, this is another very important milestone.”

Green power

These two innovative tugs, to be named SD AISEMAHT and SD QWII-AAN’C SARAH in honour of the Sc’ianew First Nation, are scheduled to be the world’s first large purpose-built high bollard pull methanol fuelled tugs when they enter service in 2025.

They will also provide significant environmental benefits to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and underwater radiated noise.

Both vessels will be equipped with a mechanical cross link system between the azimuth thrusters to enable a single engine to drive both propellers. They will also be equipped with main engine driven shaft generators to satisfy the vessel’s normal electrical needs.

These features will allow the crews to optimise engine loading and significantly reduce fuel consumption and running hours of the main engines and gensets. Combined, these features will reduce the tugs underwater radiated noise, mitigating the effects of shipping on the Salish Sea’s Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Additionally, Kotug is having the hulls of both tugs coated with a graphene paint to reduce biofouling and enhance hull-smoothness which reduces underwater radiated noise and makes the vessels more fuel efficient.

The relationship between Vancouver, BC based Robert Allan Ltd and Kotug dates back many years with over a dozen high bollard pull harbour and offshore ASD and Advanced RotorTug (ART) vessels in operation internationally.

Similarly, for almost thirty years, Sanmar Shipyards has been building high-quality tugs for Robert Allan Ltd, including battery electric, LNG fuelled and tugs for the BC market.