Vallianz Holdings has cut steel on the Asia-Pacific region’s first all-electric harbour tug.
The move came as the Singapore offshore vessel owner and shipbuilder teamed up with classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), as well as vessel designer SeaTech Solutions International and Canadian battery technology firm Shift Clean Energy to build the zero-emissions “e-tug”.
Vallianz said the vessel will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 150 tonnes per year and chop carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 tonnes per year.
“We expect this e-tug to transform the way port operations are carried out,” said Vallianz executive vice chairman Darren Yeo.
Steel cutting on the newbuilding took place at the company’s shipyard in Batam, Indonesia.
Yeo described the project as a way to showcase the yard’s capabilities.
“We believe this will place the group in a good position to capitalise on potential demand in a number of markets where there is growing interest in e-tugs such as Asia, Middle East and Australia,” he said.
The vessel is based on Singapore-based SeaTech’s E-Volt electric tug design, which uses an electric battery system provided by Shift and follows ABS guidelines for lithium batteries and hybrid-electric power systems.
“Electrification of vessels like these is an option because of our safe marine batteries, which we develop to exceed all regulations in place now, and those that would be anticipated even over the next 30 years,” Shift chief executive Brent Perry said.
The 24-metre-long vessel will have azimuth propulsion, bollard pull of more than 60 tonnes and a service speed of more than 12 knots.
The project also contemplates charging infrastructure that can be integrated into existing port operations.
