Maersk, Svitzer to develop methanol fuel cell-powered tug

Svitzer, Maersk, and Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd have entered into an agreement to develop a new harbour tug fitted with a methanol fuel cell.

The 80 tonnes bollard pull tug with escort notation will come with a hybrid electrical propulsion system solution where fuel cells can be dimensioned to deliver a specific amount of sustained bollard pull using fuel cells alone, adding power from the batteries during the short but often frequent peaks during towage operations.

The fuel cells can be used to charge the batteries when the tug is mobilising and when the tug is berthed, which Svitzer said minimises the need for expensive shoreside charging facilities.

The parties intend to have the tug deployed on operations in Europe beginning in the first quarter of 2024.