L to R: Derrick York (senior vice chairman, Caterpillar Oil & Gas and Marine Division), Arnout Damen (CEO, Damen Shipyards) and Kees-Jan Mes (managing director, Pon Power).
Damen Shipyards, Caterpillar Inc and Pon Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the joint improvement of a collection of dual-fuel methanol/diesel powered tugs.
This follows Damen’s current supply of its first, all-electric RSD-E Tug 2513, Sparky, to Ports of Auckland, New Zealand. Damen says it goals to turn out to be “the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder” and that its long-term technique to attain this contains providing a full vary of sustainable tugboats that includes each zero emission electrical and carbon impartial methanol-powered vessels.
The methanol-ready CAT 3500E collection dual-fuel pilot engines will probably be delivered to Damen by Cat supplier Pon Power in 2024 when the method of integration and testing will start. This will probably be a fancy endeavor involving integrating the engines with all points of the ship’s management, monitoring, air flow and different programs and can happen in shut cooperation with the classification societies. The goal is to have methanol-powered tugs prepared for collection manufacturing in 2026.
Damen’s technique is to supply fully-electric fashions providing bollard pulls of 40, 60 and 80 tonnes respectively and methanol-fueled fashions with 60, 80 and 100 tonnes bollard pull.
Electrically-powered tugs are perfect for zero emission operations in harbors and terminals the place low price electrical energy could be simply accessed between assignments by way of onshore infrastructure. However, with its better power density than batteries, methanol delivers elevated power storage capability, making it suited to longer period operations whereas remaining CO2 impartial.
All the vessels will probably be outfitted with a regular Emission Reduction System developed and delivered by Damen Sustainable Solutions B.V.
“We’re delighted to be working with Caterpillar on this ground-breaking project,” stated Joost Mathôt, director of merchandise at Damen’s Workboats division. “It is of mutual benefit to all the parties involved to begin operating the pilot engines as soon as possible, so that we can experience what it means to use methanol as a fuel in a maritime environment. We are very happy to be continuing our longstanding partnerships and are very confident that together we will be able to offer our end customers the sustainable solutions they are asking for, in the near future.”
“Our collaboration with Damen Shipyards Group and Pon Power brings together immeasurable expertise that allows us to learn together and innovate to address the great challenge of the energy transition,” stated Brad Johnson, vice chairman and common supervisor, Caterpillar Marine. “This is an exciting technical challenge to tackle, but most importantly, it fosters our industry’s goal to reach sustainable, low carbon operations.”
