Alternative fuelled tugs

The conversion of a Port of Antwerp-Bruges tug to methanol has been launched with the first engine installed in mid-November.

A second dual-fuel engine is set to be installed this week week enabling the vessel to run both on methanol and conventional fuels, according to the port authority. 

Tug conversion

The engine conversion was carried out by Anglo Belgian Corporation, which will also be in charge of installing the methanol tanks and pipes.

This project is funded by the European research and innovation program Horizon 2020 and it also includes Belgian engineering company Multi, which carried out the feasibility study for the project, Swedish shipbuilder Scandinaos, which designed the vessel’s modifications and Germany’s Heinzmann which is adapting the injectors.

Meanwhile, the port’s Hydrotug has arrived in the port of Ostend, where it will be further finished with the hydrogen system. Ostend was chosen because the tug can use the hydrogen bunkering facilities of CMB.TECH’s Hydrocat 48 there.

The Hydrotug consists of two BeHydro V12 dual fuel medium speed engines that can run on both hydrogen and traditional fuel. It can store 415kg of compressed hydrogen in six stillages installed on deck and eliminates the emission’s equivalent of 350 cars.

Both tugs are part of an integrated greening programme for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges fleet and they are being deployed as an important step in the transition to a climate-neutral port by 2050. 

The goal is to have the Hydrotug fully operational in Antwerp in the first quarter of 2023.