New Kotug escort tugs pair methanol fuel with hybrid drives

Kotug Canada is preparing to launch two new escort tugs fueled by methanol and powered by hybrid propulsion systems as a major step towards achieving significantly more sustainable marine operations.

Now in the final stages of construction at Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey, the SD Aisemaht and SD Qwiy Aanitsa Sarah are expected to enter service by the third quarter of 2025.

The tugs will service Canada’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project, escorting laden crude oil tankers from the outer harbour limits of the Port of Vancouver to the open Pacific Ocean through the commercial shipping lanes of the Salish Sea.

Equipped with Schottel SRP 710 RudderPropellers and the Sydrive-M mechanical hybrid solution, their system enhances both power and environmental performance by facilitating efficient transit and maneuvering with reduced emissions.

With more than 120 metric tons of bollard pull, optimized systems and graphene hull coatings, the tugs will not only reduce fuel consumption and emissions but also decrease underwater noise.

^{Photo credits : Kotug Canada}