Meet the Hydrotug, the World's First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat That Promises to Make Ports More Environmentally Friendly

Meet the Hydrotug, the World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat That Promises to Make Ports More Environmentally Friendly

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 27/05/2022 at 17:08

Créditos da imagem: CMB.TECH/Porto de Antuérpia-Bruges

Seja o primeiro a reagir!

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges Is Preparing to Welcome Soon the Hydrotug, First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat

Companies and industries worldwide are working to reduce or even eliminate carbon emissions in the medium to long term. Bold goals will only be achieved with investment in new technologies and environmentally friendly equipment. Aiming to take an important step in this direction, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium and the clean technology company CMB.TECH are preparing to welcome the Hydrotug, the world’s first hydrogen-powered tugboat.

The hydrogen-powered tugboat was unveiled on May 16 in Spain. The tug still needs final details to be launched for testing later this year. The innovative vessel is expected to be delivered by the end of 2022. It is anticipated to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2023.

The Hydrotug is the first ship to be powered by two BeHydro V12 medium-speed dual-fuel engines – each providing 2 megawatts. It can also operate on hydrogen and traditional fuel.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

How Does the Equipment Work?

The tugboat can store a total of 415 kg of compressed hydrogen. The technology has the capacity to eliminate carbon emissions equivalent to about 350 cars per year. Roy Campe, director of CMB.TECH, emphasized that this innovation can significantly improve air quality in ports around the world.

“The Hydrotug is the largest hydrogen-powered ship in the world. The technology has been approved by Lloyd’s Register, and we are ready to approach the global market of 10,000 tugboats. With this technology, we can significantly improve air quality in ports and bring hydrogen technology to all ports around the world,” said Campe.

Rob Smeets, Operations Manager of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, spoke about the green ambitions of the Antwerp-Bruges port for the coming years. “By 2028, our goal is to have the first molecules of green hydrogen on our platforms. Moreover, we are investigating a hydrogen pipeline between the two ports and inland Europe so that we can utilize as much renewable energy as possible. This hydro tug is a fantastic example of what our sustainable future should look like,” he said.

Ports Seek to Be More Environmentally Friendly

More and more ports are taking measures to support the decarbonization of maritime transport. In addition to initiatives aimed at forming green transport corridors, individual ports are introducing green incentives for ships that meet emission standards or employ alternative green fuels to reduce carbon emissions.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore announced on May 1 that it was introducing enhancements to its Green Port Program to encourage sustainability among ocean-going vessels calling at the Port of Singapore.

Meet the Hydrotug, the World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat That Promises to Make Ports More Environmentally Friendly

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges Is Preparing to Welcome Soon the Hydrotug, First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat

How Does the Equipment Work?

Ports Seek to Be More Environmentally Friendly

While in Brazil a 10-story building takes 2 years to complete, in China a company stacks pre-fabricated modules and raises the entire building in just 28 hours and 45 minutes.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

After ten days orbiting the Moon, science confirms that the astronauts of the Artemis II mission return with altered bodies.

Peru built a tunnel at an altitude of 4,738 meters cutting through the Andes Mountains, and the road leading to it reaches 4,818 meters, making it the highest paved road in the entire world.

Seen from space, an image taken by an astronaut shows in Argentine Patagonia the exact point where a colossal glacier, a turquoise-blue lake, and a greenish arm of water meet, creating one of the rarest and most impressive landscapes in the region.

In the Saudi Arabian desert, the world’s largest green hydrogen plant is 80% complete and will use 4 gigawatts of solar and wind energy to produce 600 tons of clean fuel per day when it opens in 2027.

India has connected for the first time a nuclear reactor that generates more fuel than it consumes — it produces 500 MW, cost nearly $1 billion, took 22 years, and places the country among the few with this technology in the world.

Suape Port is receiving R$ 15.8 billion to become the largest green hydrogen hub in Latin America — and a partnership with China promises an additional R$ 8 billion.

Petrobras robots dove nearly 3,000 meters deep and 201 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro confirmed what geologists suspected — there is more oil hidden in the pre-salt of Campos.

For the first time in history, an allied nuclear submarine launched and recovered an American drone underwater without surfacing — and the test changes underwater warfare forever.

The first automaker in the world to promise 1,000 real kilometers with a solid-state battery already has a production line set up, 50 cars in operation, and a date set for September 2026.

Meet the Hydrotug, the World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat That Promises to Make Ports More Environmentally Friendly

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges Is Preparing to Welcome Soon the Hydrotug, First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat

How Does the Equipment Work?

Ports Seek to Be More Environmentally Friendly

While in Brazil a 10-story building takes 2 years to complete, in China a company stacks pre-fabricated modules and raises the entire building in just 28 hours and 45 minutes.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

After ten days orbiting the Moon, science confirms that the astronauts of the Artemis II mission return with altered bodies.

Peru built a tunnel at an altitude of 4,738 meters cutting through the Andes Mountains, and the road leading to it reaches 4,818 meters, making it the highest paved road in the entire world.

Seen from space, an image taken by an astronaut shows in Argentine Patagonia the exact point where a colossal glacier, a turquoise-blue lake, and a greenish arm of water meet, creating one of the rarest and most impressive landscapes in the region.

In the Saudi Arabian desert, the world’s largest green hydrogen plant is 80% complete and will use 4 gigawatts of solar and wind energy to produce 600 tons of clean fuel per day when it opens in 2027.

Suape Port is receiving R$ 15.8 billion to become the largest green hydrogen hub in Latin America — and a partnership with China promises an additional R$ 8 billion.

Petrobras robots dove nearly 3,000 meters deep and 201 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro confirmed what geologists suspected — there is more oil hidden in the pre-salt of Campos.

Petrobras completes 1,300 hours of work and 15 km of subsea lines to connect the Búzios 90 well to the P-79 — the platform is ready to produce 180,000 barrels per day and is just awaiting ANP approval.

Monterrey is erecting a 484-meter tower that will dethrone all the skyscrapers in Latin America — it has already surpassed the 52nd floor and there are 170 meters left to the top…

At 625 meters above the ground and with a span of 1,420 meters between mountains, China inaugurated the highest bridge in the world — and the 2-hour journey now takes 2 minutes.

India has connected for the first time a nuclear reactor that generates more fuel than it consumes — it produces 500 MW, cost nearly $1 billion, took 22 years, and places the country among the few with this technology in the world.

Suape Port is receiving R$ 15.8 billion to become the largest green hydrogen hub in Latin America — and a partnership with China promises an additional R$ 8 billion.

Petrobras robots dove nearly 3,000 meters deep and 201 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro confirmed what geologists suspected — there is more oil hidden in the pre-salt of Campos.

For the first time in history, an allied nuclear submarine launched and recovered an American drone underwater without surfacing — and the test changes underwater warfare forever.

The first automaker in the world to promise 1,000 real kilometers with a solid-state battery already has a production line set up, 50 cars in operation, and a date set for September 2026.