The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is aiming to become Europe’s leader in green energy and wants to be climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this, they are working hard to make their service fleet eco-friendly. This fleet includes 19 tugboats, service vessels, and dredgers.
Peter Degroote, the Nautical Operations Manager, said, “We’ve ordered several more energy-efficient vessels. We plan to test them thoroughly over the next few years and use what we learn to upgrade the rest of our fleet.”
Pioneering Low-Emission Vessels
The port authority is exploring various low-emission propulsion systems. They already have two hybrid (electric/diesel) enforcement vessels in operation. In late 2023, they launched the Hydrotug 1, the world’s first hydrogen-powered tugboat. They also plan to deploy a hybrid methanol/electric tug in the near future.
Hydrotug 1: Dual-Fuel Hydrogen/Diesel
Hydrotug 1 is a groundbreaking tugboat built by CMB.TECH. It has two BeHydro engines that run on both hydrogen and diesel. The diesel is needed to ignite the hydrogen, but the tugboat can switch entirely to diesel if needed, ensuring it remains reliable.
This dual-fuel system means the engine will keep running even if there’s an issue with the hydrogen technology. This is crucial because a tugboat needs to be dependable when handling large ocean-going vessels. Traditional diesel tugs also have two engines for this reason. Hydrotug 1 has very low carbon emissions thanks to its BeHydro engines. The vessel is 30 meters long and has two 2,000 kW engines with 54 hydrogen cylinders holding 415 kg of hydrogen.
Peter confirmed that the crew has tested Hydrotug 1 extensively and their experiences have been positive. The skipper of Hydrotug 1 even mentioned in an interview that he would delay his retirement to keep sailing this ship.
Hybrid Electric/Diesel Enforcement Vessels
Before Hydrotug 1, the port introduced some hybrid enforcement vessels that can run on electricity and switch to diesel when needed. These boats use 40% less fuel compared to similar vessels because of their optimized aluminum hull design.
The enforcement vessels are used for 12-hour shifts, so they switch to diesel after a while because the batteries don’t last that long. The design of these hybrid vessels strikes a balance: more batteries mean less emissions, but also more weight, which increases CO2 emissions when running on diesel.
Methatug: Dual-Fuel Methanol/Diesel
The port is also working on the Methatug, an existing tug being modified to run on methanol and diesel. This is a challenge because ships are typically built around their engines, making it difficult to replace them. The Methatug should be operational by summer 2024, supported by the European Fastwater subsidy scheme.
New Regulations and Training
Dirk Van Vaerenbergh, the Fleet & Building Infrastructure Manager, pointed out that regulations for new propulsion systems like hydrogen/diesel and methanol/diesel are still developing, making it challenging to bring such ships into service. They also need to train their staff to navigate and maintain these new hybrid engines.
Refueling and Multi-Fuel Approach
Hydrotug 1 is refueled with hydrogen through truck-to-ship bunkering. Air Liquide delivers high-pressure hydrogen to the port, where it’s transferred to the tugboat. For hybrid electric/diesel vessels, the port has installed a charging point.
The port’s multi-fuel approach doesn’t stop with their own fleet. Many new ships, including large container ships, are designed for methanol propulsion and need to refuel at the port. They believe that in the long run, multiple fuels will be used based on the ship’s needs, so they are committed to offering both traditional and alternative fuels.
Leading the Way in Green Energy
Antwerp is positioning itself as Europe’s green energy gateway. They are pioneering alternative fuels, demonstrating their viability, and building the necessary infrastructure. This effort not only showcases the Port of Antwerp-Bruges but also highlights contributions from other Belgian companies like CMB.TECH and ABC Motoren.
