New tugs for Port of Antwerp-Bruges: focus on innovation and greening

The purchase includes five diesel-powered RSD tugs that will replace existing tugs. However, the real game-changer is the electric version, the RSD-E, expected in the fall of 2024. The diesel versions will follow shortly afterward in the spring of 2025. Damen Shipyards, a leading shipbuilder, is responsible for the delivery of these sustainable vessels.

With the RSD-E, Port of Antwerp-Bruges becomes the first European port with a fully electric tug with 70 tons of pulling power in its fleet. An impressive 1.5MW charging station will be installed at the operational headquarters NOC (Nautical Operational Cluster), allowing the 2,782 MWh batteries to be fully charged in just two hours.

Rob Smeets, Chief Operations Officer Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “With the purchase of these new energy-efficient tugs, we have reached another milestone on our way to a green fleet. 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.”

Annick De Ridder, Vice-Mayor of the City of Antwerp and President of the board of directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, adds: “With six new tugs, including one electric, we are renewing and greening our own fleet. We highly value 100% deployability and energy efficiency. Besides the European premiere of an electric tug, there will soon be world premieres: the first tugs on hydrogen and methanol!”