On Monday, October 23, 2023, the Hydrotug 1, the world’s first hydrogen-powered tugboat, will make the journey from Oostende to its home port in Antwerp. Port of Antwerp-Bruges and CMB.TECH will further prepare the vessel for commissioning and operational use in the coming weeks.
The Hydrotug 1 is equipped with two innovative BeHydro dual-fuel engines that can run on both hydrogen and traditional fuel. This tugboat is part of an integrated greening program for the fleet of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and represents a significant step in the transition to a climate-neutral port by 2050. With the Hydrotug 1, CMB.TECH reaffirms its international leadership role in the transition to environmentally friendly fuel-powered ships.
In May 2022, the Hydrotug 1 was launched at Armón Shipyards in Spain. A few months later, the tugboat made its way to Belgium, where the hydrogen system was installed and tested in the port of Oostende. In the coming weeks, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and CMB.TECH will further prepare the vessel for commissioning in Antwerp, aiming to have it operational by 2024.