Port of Antwerp debuts the first methanol-powered tugboat

The port of Antwerp, in the northwest of Belgiumpresented on Tuesday the world’s first tugboat powered by methanol, the Methatug, as part of the strategy to decarbonize that pier and demonstrate the viability of this sustainable fuel for the shipping industry.

“Thanks to projects like this, we are paving the way and we hope to be an example and a source of inspiration for other ports”declared the port’s CEO, Jacques Vandermeiren, in a statement.

The Methatug, powered by a fuel that can be produced from renewable sources, is part of the Port of Antwerp’s strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The project has converted the tugboat’s existing engines into “dual fuel”, which means it can run on a mixture of methanol and conventional fuel, and adds to the Hydrotug, a hydrogen-powered tugboat already operating in the same port.

Another electrically powered tug will follow later this year, also the first in Europe, port authorities added.

The new vessel is 30 meters long, has a traction force of 50 tons and has the capacity to store 12,000 liters of methanol, enough for two weeks of towing work, the port of Antwerp indicated in a project financed with community funds from the Horizon 2020 program. .

The Swedish ship design agency ScandiNAOS, the Belgian engine manufacturer Anglo Belgian Corporation, the German company Heinzmann, responsible for the methanol injectors, Ghent University for the emissions control program and the supplier have also participated in its development. Canadian Methanex methanol during testing.

The idea is to also bring the design to a pilot boat in Sweden, a river cruise ship in Germany and a coast guard vessel in Greece.

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