Towage operator Kotug Canada said on Thursday that it is ordering the world’s first large, purpose-built high-bollard-pull tugs to be fueled with methanol.
Turkey’s Sanmar Shipyards has been entrusted with their construction, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the boats to be serviceable in 2025.
Kotug Canada, a partnership between Netherlands-based Kotug International and Canada’s Horizon Maritime Services, ordered the ships as part of a long-term contract with Trans Mountain’s Westridge Marine Terminal.
The object of this contract is to provide enhanced escort towage services for tankers loading crude in the area.
The job sends the tugboats along Beecher Bay territory of the indigenous Sc’ianew First Nation, which has inspired their future names. The vessels will be dubbed the 115-bhp SD Aisemaht and SD Qwii-Aaan’c Sarah. Delivery is scheduled for 2025.
The 4400-DFM dual-fuel vessels have been designed by Vancouver-based design house Robert Allan — a long-term partner of Kotug.
“I am honoured to ink the contract of these unique, first methanol-fuelled newbuild tugboats in the world,” said Sanmar Shipyards chairman Ali Gurun.
According to the statement, both vessels will be equipped with a mechanical cross-link system between the azimuth thrusters to enable a single engine to drive both propellers.
This and other features are to reduce underwater radiated noise, thus mitigating negative ship traffic effects on Killer Whales in the area.
Low and zero-emission tugboats are slowly coming into their own as environmental requirements and awareness take hold, particularly at ports, the biggest customers of such vessels.
Other examples include electric tugboats from builders such as Damen Shipyards, which also plans to have methanol-powered tugs in production in 2026.
