Damen’s second fully electric tug sets sail

Port of Antwerp-Bruges is in its own right an operator of shiphandling tugs alongside other commercial tug operators in the port, and is set on an interesting and eclectic path of building a fleet of environmentally friendly tugs.

Volta 1 is part of a six-vessel order that includes five conventional RSD Tug 2513s, each of which complies with IMO Tier III regulations.

Other vessels in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ exploration of alternative-fuelled tugs include the hydrogen-powered Hydrotug 1 delivered by Armon of Spain in 2022. The port is also reported to soon begin operations with a retrofitted methanol tug, all part of the port’s ambition to take a leading role as innovator and facilitator to reach its 2050 goal.

Damen says Volta 1 can perform at least two towage operations on a single charge and fully recharge in two hours. The battery system is designed to withstand 30,000 cycles during its lifecycle, consistent with the lifetime of the vessel.

Damen is also providing Port of Antwerp-Bruges with the charging equipment and onshore charging infrastructure.

Proven design

The port’s choice of the RSD Tug 2513 (and the RSD-E version) follows its experience operating the second in the (conventionally powered) series named 50, which was launched in 2018 as Bis Viridis. Before becoming part of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges fleet it had a spell as Multratug 6 with Terneuzen-based Multraship.

This particular example is the second and latest fully electric version of the RSD Tug 2513, the first being Sparky, another product of Damen’s Vietnam facility and delivered in 2022 for Aukland Ports in New Zealand. A number of further such vessels are listed as either under construction or on order, with around 30 of the conventionally powered versions now in service worldwide.

Modern shiphandling tugs are typically either ASD or tractor configured and while the RSD 2513 (Reversed Stern Drive) can be considered ‘ASD’ in principle, its patented Damen Twin Fin skeg and ‘always bow first’ description makes this marque different.

As part of its European tour when launched in 2018, MJ had the opportunity to examine the first vessel in the series named Innovation at Southampton. the report can be viewed here.