Caterpillar Marine and Svitzer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to adopt solutions that enable Svitzer to use methanol in its fleet, furthering both companies’ ambition for using methanol as part of the marine industry’s decarbonisation. 

The MoU formalises a collaboration underway to deploy engine technologies that enable Svitzer to use green methanol. The adoption of Caterpillar’s dual-fuel methanol engines focuses on new tugs as well as conversions of existing Cat® powered tugs, which comprise the majority of Svitzer’s fleet.

“The focus of our collaboration is two-fold,” says Andres Perez, global tug segment manager, Caterpillar Marine. “We are supporting Svitzer to enable tugs to operate on methanol with diesel-like performance while providing fuel flexibility which is key to enabling operators to lower their carbon intensity via green methanol as availability increases. Additionally, we’re taking full advantage of the learnings to provide conversion solutions for the existing fleet. This is a critical aspect to reach the level of methanol adoption that Svitzer seeks to fulfill their goals.”