Port of Antwerp-Bruges launches the world's first methanol-powered tugboat with ABC engines

14 May 2024

Today, Port of Antwerp-Bruges presented a world premier: the Methatug. This tugboat, which runs on methanol engines from Belgian engine manufacturer ABC Engines (ABC), is part of a greening programme for the port's fleet and an important step in the transition to a climate-neutral port by 2050. The project is being financed by the European research programme Horizon 2020 and is part of the FASTWATER project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of methanol as a sustainable fuel for the shipping industry.

First methanol-powered tugboat
Methanol is one of the fuels of the future and produces lower emissions, an important factor in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges' ambition to be climate neutral by 2050. The world's first methanol-powered tugboat, the Methatug, was unveiled today in the port of Antwerp. Methanol can be produced from renewable sources, is a clean fuel and can be used for both brand-new ships and retrofits because it is liquid under ambient conditions. For the Methatug, the two ABC 8-cylinder engines from an existing tugboat were converted into ‘dual fuel’ engines, which means that they run on a mixture of methanol and traditional fuel. The 30-metre-long tugboat has a traction force of 50 tons and can store 12.000 litres of methanol, enough for two weeks of tug work.

FASTWATER project
The Methatug is part of the European FASTWATER project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of methanol as a sustainable fuel for the shipping industry, and was financed by the European research and innovation programme Horizon 2020. In addition to Port of Antwerp-Bruges, various other partners from the FASTWATER consortium are involved in this project: the Swedish ship design agency ScandiNAOS, the Belgian engine manufacturer ABC, the German company Heinzmann responsible for the methanol injectors, Ghent University for the emission monitoring programme and the Canadian methanol supplier Methanex during the trials. In the FASTWATER project, the conversions to methanol propulsion of a pilot boat in Sweden, a river cruise ship in Germany and a coastguard vessel in Greece are also elaborated.

Green fleet and multi fuel port
This world premier forms part of a comprehensive greening programme for Port of Antwerp-Bruges' own fleet which strives to systematically integrate the most environmentally friendly technologies available. So far, the Hydrotug 1, the first tugboat to run on hydrogen (with BeHydro dual fuel H2 engines), and energy-efficient RSD tugboats have already been added to the fleet. Another electrically powered tugboat will follow later this year, as the first in Europe.

As the fifth largest bunker port in the world, Port of Antwerp-Bruges also aims to become a full-fledged multi-fuel port, in which seagoing and inland vessels will be able to bunker, not only conventional fuels, but also alternative, low-carbon fuels, such as methanol, hydrogen or electricity. In early April, the first methanol bunkering with the deepsea vessel Ane Maersk took place in Antwerp, a new milestone in terms of this ambition.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: "Together with our partners, we are pioneering with innovative technologies for the transition to alternative and renewable energy sources. The Methatug is a new and essential step in our efforts to make our own fleet greener and become climate neutral by 2050. Thanks to projects such as this, we are paving the way and hope to be an example and a source of inspiration for other ports.”

Annick De Ridder, Port Alderwoman of the City of Antwerp and chair of the board of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: "The fact we are able to announce another world premier today in the field of clean energy is fantastic news for our port and for the shipping industry in general. Just like with the Hydrotug, the world's first hydrogen-powered tugboat, this project confirms our pioneering role in the field of energy transition. The ecosystem of our port platform forms an ideal, large-scale testing ground for this."

Prof. Sebastian Verhelst, Project Coordinator FASTWATER:Methanol has everything to become the fuel of the future and play a pioneering role in the greening of the shipping industry. Thanks to the expertise and efforts of the different partners from the consortium, we are now able to take important steps with the Methatug to demonstrate its feasibility.”

Tim Berckmoes, CEO ABC Engines: "With the launch of the Methatug, the world's first methanol-powered tugboat equipped with ABC engines on board, Port of Antwerp-Bruges showcases its leadership in sustainable maritime innovation. This project, supported by Horizon 2020, not only demonstrates the viability of methanol as a clean fuel but also marks a crucial step towards achieving a carbon-neutral port by 2050. As partners in progress, we are embedding sustainable energy sources in the maritime industry, and ABC Engines takes pride in contributing to this revolutionary transition."

Methatug specifications

  • 11 meter width, 29.5 meter length
  • Weight of 584 tons
  • 50 ton bollard pull
  • Storage of 12.000 litres of methanol
  • 2x ABC 8DZD MeOH dual fuel methanol medium-speed engines

About ABC
ABC Engines, located in Ghent (BE) since 1912, is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of medium-speed internal combustion engines, with a power range from 600 kW to 10.5 MW per engine.

With more than 110 years of international experience in engine production, ABC has exceptional expertise and competence. Research, development, and innovation play a crucial role in this, in which we attach great importance to durability, reliability and the simplicity of the design of our engines.

Our specialisation lies in the development of medium-speed internal combustion engines running on conventional or alternative fuels, with a specific focus on minimising the carbon footprint. Our goal is to develop the most efficient engines that deliver more power and consume less fuel while being zero emission.

ABC is ready for the energy transition today. Under the name BeHydro, a joint venture with CMB.TECH, ABC has been marketing dual fuel hydrogen engines since 2021. In 2022, it launched 100% zero emission hydrogen engines. In May last year, ABC launched an extensive range of dual fuel methanol engines. Today, ABC is the world's first engine manufacturer with heavy duty methanol engines in the field.

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