Keel laid for new biomethane-powered workboat for Estonian state operator

A ceremony was recently held in Poland to mark the laying of the keel of a new multi-purpose workboat that will be powered by biomethane.

The 38-metre boat will be operated by Estonian state-owned company Estonian State Fleet. It is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

The workboat will also be equipped with a battery enabling electric propulsion. It will be able to travel over 1,000 nautical miles on biomethane and operate on battery power for up to two hours at a speed of five knots, though it can reach a maximum speed of 12 knots. While anchored or berthed, it can operate on battery power for up to ten hours.

The workboat will be used for buoy maintenance, waterway upkeep, advanced scientific research, pollution control, and rescue operations.

Estonian builder Baltic Workboats was responsible for design work on the vessel in addition to being the lead contractor on the project. The hull will be built in Poland and then transported to Estonia for completion in the summer of 2025.