Vallianz and SeaTech sign e-tug MoU

The environmentally friendly tugs will be based on SeaTech’s existing EVT-60 design and aim to be completely emissions-free. The brand-new battery powered concept means that the power delivery of the e-tug’s battery can be optimised according to the vessel’s real-time power demand, providing a range of bollard pull to meet different operational requirements.

Darren Yeo, executive vice chairman of Vallianz, said that the partnership was the company’s first step into the development of electric vessels. “With the rise in demand for decarbonisation, coupled with the evolving digitised efficiency management systems for vessels, we foresee increasing requirements for electric vessels in the near future,” he said.

The e-tug measures 26 metres with a beam of 12.8 metres and is equipped with azimuth propulsion. With a bollard pull of 60 tonnes and service speed of 12 knots the design will comply with ABS’s ‘Guide for Use of Lithium Batteries in the Marine and Offshore Industries’ and ‘Guide for Hybrid Electric Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications’.

Govinde Chopra, director of SeaTech, said that the real challenge was in developing a cost-effective logistics solution. “We target a CAPEX increase of only 20% with lower life cycle costs for this electric tug,” he said.

“The electric tug lends itself to digitalisation and future autonomous operations. We see this as the future of harbour tugs,” he added.