Full-Sized Ship-Handling E-Tug Boasts 70-Tonne Bollard Pull
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has officially delivered its first fully electric harbour tug – dubbed ‘Sparky’ – to its new owner, Ports of Auckland.
Damen and the port authority in New Zealand had been working together for six years to develop the RSD-E Tug 2513, billed as the world’s first full-sized ship-handling e-tug.
“Her arrival marks a big step towards the port’s decarbonisation of operations and towards our long-term emissions reduction goals,” said Roger Gray, CEO of POAL.
According to POAL, the revolutionary 25-metre-long ‘Sparky’ has a 6-metre draft and two azimuth thrusters with 3-metre diameter propellers. The vessel boasts a 70-tonne bollard pull, in line with the port’s strongest diesel tug.
Its 80 battery racks holding 2,240 batteries enable the tug to carry out up to four shipping moves on one charge. Recharge time is about two hours.
The expected cost of operating the e-tug is less than a third of the cost of running a diesel tug.
“Ports of Auckland has taken a bold step in pioneering the use of fully electric harbour tugs and it is an honour to have worked with them on this project,” said Pim Schuurman, Damen’s regional sales manager for Asia Pacific.
“We hope that in the future we will be able to look back and see that ‘Sparky’ marked the beginning of a significant shift from diesel to clean, zero emissions electric tugs."
Damen operates 35 shipbuilding and repair yards worldwide. The group delivered 143 ships last year, bringing in revenues of some €2.1 billion.
The company’s markets include offshore energy, dredging, public transport, defence and security, aquaculture, fishing, inland shipping and yachting.
PHOTO: ‘Sparky’ arriving in Auckland. CREDIT: Ports of Auckland
