Tug owners face increasing investment in hybrid-electric tugs and specialised propulsion in response to rising demand for lower emissions in port, says Berg Propulsion managing director Jonas Nyberg
Berg Propulsion’s western hemisphere managing director Jonas Nyberg tells Riviera Maritime Media the tug sector is facing a huge drive to implement low-emissions propulsion technologies.
Mr Nyberg says he thinks tug owners should be comparing serial and parallel hybrid propulsion configurations as they weigh up their decisions for lowering emissions.
Discussing the forthcoming sector transformation at the International Tug & Salvage Convention 2022, Mr Nyberg lays out a methodology for assessing optimal propulsion technologies for various tug applications – including a serial and parallel hybrid integrated layout.
Optimal configurations, in these cases, depend in large part on whether and which combinations of large electric motors, engines, batteries, generators or thrusters a particular tug may employ.
Parallel hybrid propulsion systems bring lower capital costs, and are the most flexible options for tugs using engines and liquid fuels for main propulsion, and supplementing these with electric motors.
Serial hybrid solutions would be an optimal choice for tugs using onboard batteries and shore power sources, with generators for back-up.
Mr Nyberg indicates he feels that, for early adopters, there are opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and to be at the forefront of the propulsion transformation.
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