CMB.Tech and Damen will work together on hydrogen-powered ASD Tugs. Built by Damen, these vessels use CMB.Tech’s innovative dual-fuel hydrogen technology that will significantly reduce emissions.
The collaboration for the first four vessels was signed on 23 May at Albwardy Damen in Sharjah. The signing took place during the 27th International Tug & Salvage (ITS) Convention in Dubai. Earlier that day, Lloyd’s Register presented CMB.Tech and Damen with an approval in principle (AiP) for the hydrogen solution that will be installed in the tugs.
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Decarbonising the industry
‘Our two family-owned companies share the same long-term view and commitment to the maritime energy transition,’ says Damen area sales manager Benelux Vincent Maes says. ‘We’re looking forward to continuing our collaboration and developing the next steps to make our ports – and our world – a greener place.’
CEO of CMB.Tech, Alexander Saverys, adds: ‘This contract marks another very important step in the development of our hydrogen-powered vessel portfolio. Tugboats are ideal assets to start the decarbonisation of port operations. With our hydrogen tugs, every port in the world will now be able to lower its carbon emissions and create demand for green hydrogen production.’
Damen and CMB.Tech have previously cooperated on the development of a series Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) – which are powered by hydrogen dual fuel generator sets – the so-called Elevation Series, that Damen is building for CMB.Tech’s subsidiary Windcat.
Also read: Multraship adds Damen tug to fleet
Hydrogen dual-fuel
The hydrogen dual-fuel ASD Tugs 2812 FF-H2, with 80-tonnes bollard pull, that meets the most stringent IMO Tier III and EU Stage V standards, are a new step in the parties’ cooperation. The vessels will feature four highspeed hydrogen dual-fuel engines, designed to minimise NOx and CO2 emissions. They will also have modular storage systems for compressed hydrogen, ensuring safe storage below deck. Each tug can carry up to 16 hydrogen bottles, storing a total of 736 kg of pressurised hydrogen at 350 bar.
While these tugs will primarily run on hydrogen, they’re equipped to switch to traditional fuel if hydrogen isn’t available and can operate on 100 per cent traditional fuel if needed. The tugs feature a total of 160-m3 fuel holds.
Also read: Port of Antwerp-Bruges & CMB.Tech launch the Hydrotug 1
