Construction lately started in Turkey on two dual-fuel methanol tugboats. While a number of initiatives are engaged on creating tugs powered by methanol, these two are scheduled to enter service in mid-2025 making them the world’s first giant, purpose-built excessive bollard pull tugs fueled by methanol. 

These tugs are being constructed at Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey. When accomplished, they are going to be employed escorting tankers supporting the Trans Mountain Expansion Project between the Westridge Marine Terminal and the harbor limits of the Port of Vancouver, Canada. The contract for the operation of the tugs was awarded in December 2021 to KOTUG Canada, a partnership between KOTUG and Canada’s Horizon Maritime Services. 

The Canadian Energy Regulator imposed as a situation of the venture the escort of the tankers, which shall be as much as Aframax class in dimension, to attenuate the dangers together with grounding ought to a vessel turn into disabled for any cause. Robert Allen, well-known in tugboat design, was employed for the venture they usually 
studied the necessities of the tugs and consulted with BC Coastal Pilots in Canada. They decided the optimum minimal tug dimension for the venture vessels and customised the ahead escort system to the pilot’s wants. 

Last July, the businesses confirmed that they might be continuing with the methanol dual-fuel tug design that features a hybrid propulsion configuration. Each vessel shall be roughly 145 toes (44 meters) in size with a bollard pull capability of 120 tonnes. Earlier studies mentioned they might be escort-rated 9,000 horsepower tugs and can exchange the present tugs chosen in 2021.

The two methanol-fueled tugs are anticipated to be among the many first on the planet once they enter service in 2025 (KOTUG)

First metal for the development befell in Turkey on February 13 and the vessels shall be named SD Aisemaht and SD Qwii-Aan’c Sarah taking names from the First Nation people who find themselves additionally collaborating within the venture. Among the opposite options, the tugs shall be outfitted with a mechanical cross-link system (Schottel SY Drive azimuth thrusters) to allow a single engine to drive two thrusters. They report that this may considerably scale back gas consumption. They additionally plan to use graphene paint to scale back biofouling. It can even improve hull smoothness and scale back underwater noise and drag making the vessels extra gas environment friendly. They count on the vessels will be capable to attain speeds as much as 14 knots.

As a part of the Canadian necessities, the tugs can even be outfitted with Firefighting Class 2 tools appropriate to assist a response at sea or the terminal. They additionally could have area for tanks and tools to help throughout an oil spill and restoration occasion.

These tugs observe Canada’s first absolutely electrical battery-powered tugs which arrived in Vancouver in July 2023 to be operated by HaiSea Marine, a partnership with Seaspan. The vessels have a battery storage system to supply greater than 5,200 kWh. They have been designed to assist the motion of LNG carriers in Vancouver harbor and shall be joined by two dual-fuel LNG-powered tugs. 

Another operator, SAAM Towage additionally lately took supply of two battery-powered electrical tugs. They shall be used to maneuver bulkers operated by Teck Resources in Vancouver Harbor. 

Vancouver and British Columbia are on the forefront of the business transitioning to a inexperienced harbor fleet. They are changing older diesel-fueled tugs with this new era of environmentally pleasant vessels.