Svitzer to develop first methanol hybrid fuel cell powered tugboat

The tugboat will use an electrical propulsion system powered by methanol-fuel cells and batteries, said the global towage service provider.

PHOTO: Model of methanol hybrid fuel cell (MHFC) tugboat. Svitzer

The tugboat is expected to enter service in the second half of 2025 and will be deployed in the Port of Gothenburg, the company said. 

Svitzer, a part of Danish shipping major A. P. Moller-Maersk, has partnered with naval architect company Robert Allan to design this methanol hybrid fuel cell (MHFC) tugboat.

“The next phase will include work to complete the vessel design, scope considerations for vessel construction, and onboard equipment selection necessary to build the vessel,” Svitzer added.  

Svitzer is planning to partner with other companies to finalise the selection of onboard equipment, such as batteries and fuel cell system, and to support construction once the design phase is complete. 

Svitzer claims the methanol fuel-cell powered tugboat "running on green methanol would prevent approximately 1,300 mt of CO2 annually from being emitted into the atmosphere, compared to fossil-fuel-based vessels of the same dimensions within Svitzer’s global fleet."  

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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