Zurich-based technology company ABB announced the signing of a contract with Singaporean shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine to jointly develop an autonomous tug to operate from 2020. Upon project completion, the vessel is anticipated to be South Asia’s first autonomous tug.
A team of tugboat masters just finished a training programme in Denmark as part of a strategic sector cooperation between Denmark and Ghana. The training provided the tugboat masters with new tools on how to perform tugboat missions in the Port of Tema.
Port of Antwerp has ordered construction of a tug powered by hydrogen, the first in the world. This ‘Hydrotug’ is driven by combustion engines that burn hydrogen in combination with diesel. The motors also comply with the very strictest standard, the EU Stage V.
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) released a short educational video on the contributions of the American tugboat, towboat and barge industry to the US economy and security. The video forms part of the Spotlight On educational video series.
The number of incidents involving tug boats towing barges has seen a rise in the Singapore Strait, with a total of 14 incidents reported only in 2019 (until 15th August). Of these, nine incidents reported loss of scrap metal from their barges.
New Zealand’s Ports of Auckland announced the signing of a contract with Dutch company Damen Shipyards to buy the world’s first full-size, fully electric port tug. This comes in line with the port’s commitment to be zero emission by 2040, as previously announced.
US Coast Guard pollution responders informed that they are responding to a report of a tug that sank at the Port Orchard Railway Marina in Port Townsend, Washington, on Monday July 29. 250 gallons of red dye diesel fuel and hydraulic oil have been recovered.
Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping launched the ‘Availability of Tugs of Opportunity in Canada’s Pacific Region’ research report according to which there’s a possibility that Canada’s West Coast experiences some gaps in the availability of commercial tugs to serve as emergency towing vessels for ships in distress.
Wärtsilä’s hybrid power module solution, the Wärtsilä HY, is now operating on the ‘Vilja’, an escort tug owned by the Swedish port of Luleå. The tug was constructed at Gondan Shipbuilders in Asturias, Spain and was delivered in the end of June 2019, after successfully conducting commissioning and sea trials.
The Unified Command, including the US Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, Port of Houston Fire Department and Kirby Inland Marine, have successfully removed two barges involved in a collision from the Houston Ship Channel, on May 15. The Captain of the Port of Houston-Galveston has opened the Houston Ship Channel without restrictions and vessel traffic has returned to normal operations.
