First methanol-fuelled tug takes form

If hydrogen, compressed or liquidised for storage, is deemed too sophisticated, pricey and tough to deal with, why not strive methanol? 

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is once more the chief in growing methanol as a gasoline for tugs, maybe as a result of it sees itself as a bunkering hub for different fuels. With this in thoughts, it’s working with Anglo Belgian Corp, engineering firms Multi and Heinzmann and Swedish shipbuilder Scandinaos to transform an current harbour tug into Methatug to trial methanol in dual-fuel engines. Methanol has higher storage traits than hydrogen and is prone to change into a extra viable different to diesel within the medium-term decarbonisation drive.

The undertaking is a part of the European Fastwater undertaking and is funded by the EU’s analysis and innovation programme Horizon 2020. As with Hydrotug 1, its success or failure will affect future funding in future fuels.

All-electric Sparky wins ITS Tug of the 12 months 2022

Different fuels have their advantages when it comes to energy, vary and lowered air air pollution, however for zero-emissions harbour operations, batteries are the best way to go. Tug homeowners and port authorities are beginning to see the potential for battery-powered tugs, and shipyards are starting to construct and ship them to first movers and innovators. Gisas Energy was the primary, when delivered in 2020. The second was Sparky, designed and constructed by Damen Shipyards for Ports of Auckland and delivered Q3 2022. It was a worthy winner of the ITS Tug of the 12 months Award 2022 and the lead story in ITS TugWorld Annual Assessment 2022. 

Digital actuality utilized to tug coaching

With all of the funding heading into tug design and propulsion techniques for different fuels and electrical energy, the necessity for coaching is usually ignored. Tug crews might want to upskill to securely deal with system developments and technical modifications on board.

I used to be invited to Portsmouth, on the English south coast to check coaching applied sciences together with simulators and digital actuality at a brand new centre referred to as the Maritime Abilities Academy.

Utilizing VR goggles and tug controls, I used to be in a position to manoeuvre a tug avatar in digital actuality across the harbour together with finishing a multi-point flip. My experiences on the academy and knowledge on the longer term improvement of simulation coaching for seafarers had been lined in a characteristic within the ITS Might/June 2022 concern.

Challenges of salvaging ships powered by new fuels

With an growing proportion of the worldwide fleet of service provider ships operating on alternate options to heavy gasoline oil and diesel fuels, salvors are fearful in regards to the potential new challenges when responding to ship collisions, groundings and sinkings of ships utilizing these fuels. 

Among the extra critical potential points for salvors embrace the explosive traits and low flash factors of some alternate options to oil-based gasoline. These challenges had been mentioned in depth throughout a session at ITS 2022 and reported within the November/December concern of ITS. Notable within the dialogue is the unique different gasoline, LNG, which provides little in the best way of examples or learnings for salvors, primarily because of the exemplary security file of the LNG delivery and terminals sector.