Wärtsilä Launches New Bunker-Saving Tug Design Series

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday September 18, 2017

Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) today announced a new portfolio of bunker-saving tug designs, the Wärtsilä HYTug series, which is said to place an emphasis on environmental sustainability through the use of hybrid propulsion technology.

"We believe that new tugs will in future rely more and more on battery and hybrid propulsion, which very well complements today’s operational requirements," said Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Ship Design at Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

"As a total solutions provider with unmatched in-house capabilities combining ship design, engine technology, propulsion, and electrical and automation systems, Wärtsilä is uniquely qualified to produce tug designs that fully meet the needs of the industry, and this we have now done."

The Wärtsilä HY hybrid propulsion solution on which the new tug designs are based are said to offer increased flexibility and efficiency.

"Using less engine power also decreases exhaust emission levels and, therefore, the environmental impact. It also reduces the fuel bill and lessens the amount of engine maintenance needed, which again adds to the cost savings," noted Wärtsilä.

Each design, which has been optimised for low hull resistance, provides the option of either diesel mechanical hybrid, or diesel electric hybrid propulsion.

Development work on the design series has been carried out by Wärtsilä in cooperation with classification societies ABS, Bureau Veritas, and Lloyd's Register.

Having received an Approval-in-Principle (AiP) certification, the new designs are set to be launched at the Asian Tug Technology and Salvage conference in Singapore this week.

In April, Wärtsilä and COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (CHI) announced that the companies' joint development of an efficient natural gas operating fleet concept had been granted AiP from Lloyd's Register.