Deal to develop infrastructure for H2-fuelled tugs for Port of Hamburg

Fairplay Towage has announced plans to order new tugboats capable of running on hydrogen, which it will add to its fleet in the Port of Hamburg. The new tugs will be commissioned in 2025. 

The agreement relates to the supply of hydrogen for the hydrogen-powered tugs, along with the corresponding infrastructure for bunkering. Mabanaft Group plans to extend the range of marine fuels with hydrogen, and plans to use its tank terminals in Hamburg for this purpose, in order to be able to supply Fairplay Towage with hydrogen. The MoU between Mabanaft and Fairplay Towage marks the start of a long-term strategic cooperation.

“To enable the use of hydrogen-powered tugs, not only hydrogen but also the corresponding infrastructure for bunkering must be provided,” said Volker Ebeling, senior vice president New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure at Mabanaft. “Hydrogen is considered one of the keys to the decarbonisation of the shipping sector, as it offers an emission-free alternative to conventional fossil fuels. This agreement with Fairplay Towage is an important step on the road to achieving carbon neutral shipping in the port of Hamburg and we are proud to be working together to decarbonise the industry.”

In November 2022, Mabanaft announced its intention to build an ammonia import terminal in the Port of Hamburg, the first step in the development of New Energy Gate, a terminal for sustainable hydrogen products.