Port of Antwerp-Bruges ordered the tug in 2019 from Antwerp-based Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) as part of its strategy of becoming a climate-neutral port by 2050.
The tugboat was built at Armón Shipyards in Navia Spain where it hit the water on 16 May 2022. In October 2022, the vessel arrived in Ostend, where it was fitted with a hydrogen system. The tug ship can store 415kg of compressed hydrogen in 6 stillages installed on deck and eliminates the emission’s equivalent of 350 cars per year.
The Hydrotug 1 is powered by combustion engines that burn hydrogen in combination with traditional fuel. It is the first vessel that uses the BeHydro V12 dual fuel medium speed engines – each providing 2 megawatts – with the latest EU Stage V emissions after treatment. The engines use clean fuels, resulting in an overall reduction of 65% of traditional fuel consumption and associated emissions in the tugboat’s overall cycle.
The Hydrotug 1 plays a crucial role Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ strategy to position itself as a green energy gate to Europe, with a focus on hydrogen as a sustainable fuel source for vessels.
According to the Internet
