Drydocks World to build LNG-powered tugboat

Dubai: Drydocks World announced on Thursday plans to build the world’s first LNG-powered harbour tugboat in partnership with Finnish marine power source manufacturer Wartsila.

Construction on the first of a possible ten vessels will begin in the third quarter of this year, said Khamis Juma Buamim, Drydocks chairman, with construction expected to take 10–12 months.

The vessel will be built in Dubai at Drydock World’s flagship shipyard in Maritime City. It will reduce emissions of NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) by 85 per cent and CO2 (carbon dioxide) by 25 per cent, according to Drydocks.

Buamim declined to reveal the cost of the project but said the funding is coming from Drydocks, which will work with Wartsilla on “sharing cost structures”.

Drydocks is currently in discussion with a number of regional and international companies, Buamim said, for as many as ten of the vessels.

Wartsilla has experience in vessel design, power and propulsion systems and the integrated automation systems. Certification for the vessel will come from UAE company Tasneef and the carbon efficiency programme will be overlooked by Dubai Carbon.