![Damen Shipyards signs contract with Port of Antwerp-Bruges for supply of six new RSD Tugs[4].jpg](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/sites/seatrade-maritime.com/files/styles/article_featured_standard/public/Damen%20Shipyards%20signs%20contract%20with%20Port%20of%20Antwerp-Bruges%20for%20supply%20of%20six%20new%20RSD%20Tugs4.jpg?itok=nJrQiIU7 "Damen Shipyards signs contract with Port of Antwerp-Bruges for supply of six new RSD Tugs[4].jpg")
The order comprises five diesel RSD Tugs 2513 fitted with the Damen Marine NOx Reduction System, and along with the electric RSD-E Tug 2513 are part of the port’s ongoing renewal of its fleet.
The new RSD-E Tug 2513 will be the first all-electric tug to operate in Europe and it will be working in one of the world’s busiest ports.
“With the purchase of these new energy-efficient tugs, we have reached another milestone on our way to a green fleet,” said Rob Smeets, Chief Operations Officer Port of Antwerp-Bruges. “Our ambition is to be carbon-neutral by 2050 by pursuing various sustainability paths and daring to pioneer innovative technologies. These tugs are a prime example of what our sustainable future should look like.”
In addition to minimising their environmental footprint in and around the port, the six new tugs will be fitted with extensive fire-fighting capabilities that can be used to support the Antwerp’s land-based fire-fighting teams.
With construction already underway, the vessels will be delivered between late 2024 and early 2025, with the RSD-E Tug 2513 being the first. Damen will also be delivering the charger and onshore electrical infrastructure for the new arrival.
“This is a landmark in the adoption of all-electric tugs as mainstream harbour towage solutions,” commented Vincent Maes,” Damen Area Sales Manager Benelux. “Port of Antwerp-Bruges’s support of our advanced tug solutions plays an important role in introducing them to the wider market and it is, as always, a pleasure to work with a client who shares Damen’s vision of a sustainable future.”
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is also converting one of its existing tugs to methanol propulsion and another to use hydrogen, as identifying the most effective solutions from the alternatives currently available. These programmes and others have the goal of enabling it to meet the 2040 and 2050 emissions targets and give other ports the confidence to do the same.
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