Svitzer turns to Caterpillar to switch its fleet to methanol
Global towage operator Svitzer, a part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Houston-based Caterpillar Marine to adopt solutions that enable Svitzer to utilize methanol in their fleet, according to Offshore Energy.
Under the partnership, the duo plans to work on the installation of dual-fuel methanol engines on new tugs as well as conversions of existing Cat powered tugs, which comprise the majority of Svitzer’s fleet.
Svitzer is also using biofuels as part of its decarbonization strategy in the form of its towage service called Ecotow. The Ecotow product exclusively uses sustainable second-generation biofuels, produced using waste material such as used cooking oil as feedstocks, certified by ISSC or RSB. Relative to marine diesel, these biofuels reduce carbon emissions by 100% on a tank-to-wake basis and about 90% on a well-to-wake basis.
The deal comes in the wake of Caterpillar’s recent announcement regarding Cat 3500-E series methanol-readiness announcement which was made in September 2022.
The engine is also at the center of Caterpillar’s collaboration with Dutch shipbuilder Damen for the joint development of a series of dual-fuel methanol/diesel powered tugs.
Svitzer is aiming to achieve a 50% reduction in the CO2 intensity of its entire fleet by 2030 and become CO2 neutral across all scopes by 2040.
Methanol as a marine fuel is also at the core of Maersk’s decarbonization strategy as a solution that can deliver immediate benefits to the environment.
The container shipping major has just achieved a milestone with regard to the construction of its methanol-powered fleet. Namely, at the beginning of this month, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard launched Maersk’s first methanol-powered feeder vessel.
The ship is the company’s first carbon-neutral vessel and it will join its fleet in the summer of this year. The feeder will be followed by 18 large ocean-going vessels of 16,000-17,200 TEU capacity which are scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025.
