Harland & Wolff has given added dimension to its strategy for shipbuilding revival through a project to design and construct zero-emission tugs. The Belfast-based group has joined forces with Macduff Ship Designers, Kongsberg Maritime, and Echandia in a consortium that will make recourse to technology transfer to develop and build ‘green’ harbour/coastal tugs using a 100% UK supply chain.

An initial order is in the planning stage encompassing two hybrid battery-electric tugs of azimuthing stern drive (ASD) type, each of which will be 25.5m in length, 12m in breadth and of 4.85m draught. Relative to the main dimensions, the design offers a high towing effect of 50t bollard pull capacity, suited to coastwise assignments with heavily laden barges and other tasks.