Port Of Antwerp-Bruges Launches The World's First Methanol-Powered Tugboat

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has launched the world’s first-ever methanol-powered tugboat, the Methatug, as part of the objective to become climate-neutral by 2050.

Methanol is a clean fuel produced from renewable sources.

It has lower emissions and can be used in new vessels and retrofits.

The Methatug is part of the European FASTWATER scheme, funded by the Horizon 2020 mission.

This scheme aims to demonstrate the feasibility of methanol as a sustainable fuel for the shipping industry.

The Methatug, with a 50-ton bollard pull, can store 12,000 litres of methanol, which is enough fuel to sustain two weeks of work.

The tug was transformed with dual-fuel engines that ran on methanol and traditional fuel.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the fifth largest bunker port globally.

It targets becoming a full-fledged multi-fuel port where both inland and seagoing vessels can bunker not only traditional fuels but also alternative and low-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen, methanol, or electricity.

The port further marked its first-ever methanol bunkering of a deep sea vessel earlier this year with Maersk’s green methanol-fueled container ship, Ane Maersk.

In December, the port witnessed the launch of the world’s first hydrogen-powered tug, the Hydrotug 1, with the Belgian shipping group CMB.TECH.

Jacques Vandermeiren, the CEO of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, mentioned that our partners are pioneering innovative tech for a transition to renewable and alternative energy sources.

The Methatug is an essential and new step in making the fleet greener and becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

Thanks to projects like this, we’re paving the way and hope to be an instance and a source of inspiration for several ports.

Reference: Maritime Gateway

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