Hongkong Salvage & Towage Services has held a ceremony to commission the first two locally licensed liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel tugs in Hong Kong. These vessels represent a significant breakthrough in the region’s maritime industry.
The tugs, named LNG Sentinel I and LNG Sentinel II, have a length of 42 meters, a beam of 16 meters and a gross tonnage of 1,275 tons. These vessels are equipped with two azimuth thrusters driven by electric motors. electric motors which together provide an output of 6,000 kilowatts and can reach a maximum speed of 14 knots.
Hong Kong and its commitment to green fuels
In December 2023, the Hong Kong Government launched the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy, which details four strategic directions and ten specific strategies to enhance the long-term competitiveness and support the development needs of the development needs of the maritime industry.
The plan’s objectives include the development of a green port and research into the feasibility of supplying green fuels for local and for local and ocean-going vessels.
In addition, an action plan to position Hong Kong as a green marine bunkering hub was published this year. In support of this initiative, the Maritime Legislation (Use of Fuels and Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024 was introduced in the Legislative Council to facilitate the safe use of new fuels such as LNG by ships.
Hong Kong and its environmentally friendly tugboats
The government is committed to transforming the city into a green port and encouraging the use of greener fuels that generate lower carbon emissions or even zero emissions, rather than the petroleum-based fuels commonly used today.
commented Shi Qiang, deputy director of the Marine Department.
Qiang noted that the commissioning of these tugboats with dual-fuel engine systems is a milestone that motivates other local vessels to adopt new fuels, moving toward the goal of the International Maritime Organization goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in international shipping by 2050.
Finally, Qiang expressed his optimism about continued collaboration with the industry to jointly promote and achieve green and sustainable development in the shipping industry.
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Source and photo: offshore-energy.biz
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