Six new Damen tugs for Antwerp-Bruges

The five diesel-powered RSD Tugs 2513 fitted with the Damen Marine NOx Reduction System, and one electric RSD-E Tug 2513 plus charger and onshore electrical infrastructure will be delivered between late 2024 and early 2025.

The port’s new RSD-E Tug 2513 will be the first all-electric tug to operate in Europe. The port authorities expect the towage industry will be watching closely to see how its electric propulsion stands up to the high-pressure environment of one of the world’s busiest ports.

“This is a landmark in the adoption of all-electric tugs as mainstream harbour towage solutions,” said Vincent Maes, Damen Area sales manager Benelux. “Port of Antwerp-Bruges’s support of our advanced tug solutions plays an important role in introducing them to the wider market.”

Along with IMO Tier-III compliance and reduced noise levels the tugs come equipped with fire-fighting capabilities to support Antwerp’s land-based teams.

The port is also converting one of its existing tugs to methanol propulsion and another to use hydrogen to help meet a series of emissions targets culminating in carbon-neutrality by 2050.

“With the purchase of these new energy-efficient tugs, we have reached another milestone on our way to a green fleet,” said Rob Smeets, chief operations officer at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

“These tugs are a prime example of what our sustainable future should look like.”