World’s first methanol-powered tug starts operating in Belgium

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World’s first methanol-powered tug starts operating in Belgium Port of Antwerp

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has presented a world premier: the Methatug, a tugboat, which runs on methanol.

Engines from an existing tugboat were converted into dual fuel engines. The 30 m long tugboat has a traction force of 50 tons and can store 12,000 litres of methanol, enough for two weeks of tug work.

The Methatug is part of the European FASTWATER project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of methanol as a sustainable fuel for the shipping industry, and was financed by the European research and innovation programme Horizon 2020.

This world premier forms part of a comprehensive greening programme for Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ own fleet. So far, the Hydrotug 1, the first tugboat to run on hydrogen, and energy-efficient RSD tugboats have already been added to the fleet. Another electrically powered tugboat will follow later this year, as the first in Europe.