Damen delivers first hybrid tug

The Bernardus combines diesel-direct, diesel-electric propulsion and battery power, enabling the vessel to achieve average fuel savings of up to 30% and up to 40% emission reduction.

“Harbour assisting tugs typically operate in polluted areas with high levels of particulates and NO_x, so being green is becoming a more and more important selling point. The coming decade will see a lot of changes happening in engine rooms as they become greener and cleaner,” said Coen Boudesteijn, product director, tugs, Damen.

“This delivery demonstrates that the shipbuilding industry has the knowledge and ability to build greener vessels, but we need more support from governments in terms of subsidies because being green has to be commercially attractive too,” he added.

Despite its ‘green’ features, the vessel still has a bollard pull of 60 tonnes. During station keeping, manoeuvring and low speed sailing (up to five knots), Bernardus uses battery packs to operate under 100% electric power. The same batteries will also be used when the tug is at the quayside at night, eliminating the use of generators. Damen says this will not only be economic but much more comfortable for the crew.

Bernardus is Damen’s first ASD 2810 hybrid tug, but an additional four are already under construction. This includes three for the Royal Netherlands Navy in response to development in emission reduction and environmentally-friendly shipping and one for stock.

This latest delivery builds on Damen’s ‘green’ production. The company has already built an electrical patrol vessel for the canals of Amsterdam that runs on 100% battery power. In addition, the company now has plans to build an LNG inland shipping vessel, known as the Ecoliner, and an LNG-powered tug.