Partnership to develop hydrogen-powered tugs

Belgian marine engineering firm CMB.Tech has entered into a partnership with the aim of developing ASD tugs fitted with dual-fuel hydrogen propulsion systems.

Each tug in the series will have a length of 28 metres and a bollard pull of 80 tonnes.

The vessels will each feature four high-speed, hydrogen dual-fuel engines designed to minimise NOx and CO2 emissions. They will also have modular storage systems for compressed hydrogen, ensuring safe storage below deck.

Each tug can carry up to 16 hydrogen bottles, storing a total of 736 kg of pressurised hydrogen at 350 bar.

While the tugs will primarily run on hydrogen, they are also equipped to switch to traditional fuel and operate on 100 per cent traditional fuel if needed.

The tugs will each have 160 cubic metres of total fuel hold capacity.

Lloyd's Register has meanwhile awarded approval in principle (AIP) for the hydrogen solution that will be fitted on the tugs.