Port of Antwerp-Bruges Welcomes Europe’s First Fully Electric Tugboat and New Energy-Efficient Vessels

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has welcomed six new energy-efficient tugboats, including Europe’s first fully electric tug. Damen, a shipbuilding company, built these tugs in Vietnam as part of the port’s sustainability plan.

Damen started constructing the tugs in 2023 at its shipyard in Vietnam. They were launched between April and August 2024. After extensive testing and commissioning, they were loaded onto the heavy-lift vessel Jumbo Kinetic in October for their journey to Belgium. The Jumbo Kinetic made stops in Singapore and Las Palmas before arriving at North Sea Port’s Vlissingen harbor on November 28. Tugs from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges escorted the Jumbo Kinetic into the port.

The electric tug, named Volta 1, can pull 70 tons. All six tugs are Reversed Stern Drive (RSD) models. They have a dual-bow design, which provides excellent maneuverability. The RSD-E Tug 2513 uses large batteries that can perform two towage operations on a single charge. Damen installed a 1.5 MW charger at the port, allowing the tug to recharge fully in two hours.

The remaining five tugs are powered by diesel. They include NOX Reduction Systems to meet IMO Tier III standards for emissions.

The port will prepare the tugs for operation. This includes technical start-up, crew training, and testing the Volta 1 with the new charging infrastructure at the Nautical Operational Cluster. Damen provides training, which began before the tugs arrived in Antwerp. This training includes simulator-based, technical, and onboard sessions.

Electric tugs have been on the rise worldwide. The first fully electric tugboat was ordered by New Zealand and arrived in the Port of Auckland in 2022. More electric tugs are now in service, including in Canada and the United States, where Crowley received its first electric tug this year.