World?s First LNG-Powered Tug Enters Service

M/T Borgøy, the world’s first tug to be fuelled by the much more environmentally friendly LNG, designed by Norwegian Buksèr og Berging in-house team with the assistance of Marine Design in Norway, further developed by Sanmar’s modern shipyard in Istanbul, completed her sea trials successfully this month and started her maiden voyage on 14th of January.

The engines, propulsion package and LNG system has been delivered by Rolls Royce. Usage of LNG in this tugboat eliminates sulfur emissions, bring particulate matter emissions down close to zero and reduce the discharge of CO2 and NOx by 26 per cent and 80-90 percent respectively. She will be operated by Buksèr og Berging in Statoil’s Kaarstoe Gas Terminal.

The tug is 35m long stern drive azimuth thruster tugs with a broad 15.4m beam and a bollard pull of about 65 tonnes. The design was developed by Buksér og Berging together with Marin Design and is a breakthrough for Rolls-Royce Bergen gas engines in the tug market, and for the new US35 thrusters in escort tugs. The unique engine performance characteristics in terms of response time, fuel consumption and low methane played an important role in the customer’s decision to choose Rolls-Royce as their preferred supplier.

Two 1,705kW Bergen C26:33 6cyl in-line gas engines provide the tug’s power. They drive two US35 azimuth thrusters of the latest design through a mechanical transmission. Rolls-Royce has also provided its Acon control system and monitoring for the gas system together with propulsion system engineering, and the AGA Cryo single LNG tank plus gas supply based on two coldboxes. The system is designed for weekly bunkering intervals and bunkering time is estimated to be 45 minutes.