Methatug, a methanol-powered tug launched at Port of Antwerp-Bruges

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges (PAB) in Belgium has confirmed that a new harbour tug that will utilise methanol as fuel has been launched into the water for the first time.

Named Methatug, the vessel is an existing tug that had its engines converted into dual-fuel engines that can run on a mixture of methanol and traditional fuel.

The 30-metre-long tug has a bollard pull of 50 tonnes and can store 12.000 litres of methanol, which PAB said is adequate for two weeks of operations.

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

Various other partners from the FASTWATER consortium are involved in this project. These include Swedish ship design agency ScandiNAOS, engine manufacturer Anglo Belgian Corporation, methanol injector supplier Heinzmann, Ghent University for the emission monitoring programme, and methanol supplier Methanex.