Construction of the world’s first hydrogen-powered tug boat, Hydrotug 1, has been completed in Spain.
The tugboat arrived in Belgium last week where its hydrogen system will be completed and trials will be run at the Port of Ostend before it is delivered for service by the end of this year.
Maritime Executive reports that the goal is to have Hydrotug 1 fully operational at the Port of Antwerp during the first quarter of 2023.
The tug was built at the Armón Shipyards in Navia, Spain where it was launched on May 16 in a demonstration of project partnership between CMB Tech and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. CMB Tech, which says it is taking a pioneering role in the transition of ships to environmentally friendly fuel, also launched the vessel Hydrocat 48 earlier this year. The hydrogen-powered tug is the latest in its series of projects demonstrating hydrogen-powered propulsion.
According to port officials, Hydrotug 1 can store 415 kg of compressed hydrogen in six racks installed on the deck.
“They estimate that this eliminates emissions equivalent to 350 cars. In addition, each hydrogen refuelling of Hydrotug 1 saves the total emissions of one car for one year,” the publication reported.
Two BeHydro V12 dual-fuel medium-speed engines, which can run on both hydrogen and traditional fuel, power the tug. It is the first in the world to be powered by combustion engines that burn hydrogen in combination with diesel. The vessel has power of 5 500 hp.
Ostend was selected as the port of choice for the final outfitting and testing of the new tugboat because the vessel uses the hydrogen facilities of CMB TECH's Hydrocat 48, which operates from the port.
