The Abu Dhabi ports and marine services group has ordered a second fully electric tugboat to provide zero-emissions towage and ship handling in ports
Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group’s maritime and shipping cluster, has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards for a second battery-electric tugboat after its success with a record-breaker in the United Arab Emirates.
For this contract, Damen will supply another reverse stern drive (RSD) tugboat, built to its RSD-E 2513 design at the Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam for delivery later this year.
Noatum already operates an RSD-E 2513 tug, Bu Tinah, in Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, where the second will head once commissioned.
This 2024-built tugboat has an overall length of around 27 m and achieved an average high-peak bollard pull of 78 tonnes in November 2024, setting at the time a Guinness World Record for the most powerful battery-electric harbour tugboat in the world.
Bureau Veritas-classed Bu Tinah as being operated using its electric-hybrid propulsion, with batteries supplemented and charged by a generator set until a shore power installation is commissioned.
These 70-tonne bollard pull tugs feature rapid charging technology, capable of completing multiple assignments on a single charge with full recharging in just two hours.
Damen said its RSD-E 2513 tugs have a twin-fin skeg and double bow for superior manoeuvrability, and can sail in both directions to handle the world’s largest ships in terminals.
