Drydocks World and Dubai Maritime City (DMC), as a part of the “Green Economy for Sustainable Development” initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE, has entered into MoU with Wartsila and Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence for building the world’s first LNG powered harbor tug.
This project launched under the trade mark “Elemarateyah” is part of the Dubai Maritime Green Initiative, a strategic movement to encourage all-round environmental excellence in maritime and allied sectors including oil, gas and energy.
This landmark undertaking in which the tug will have a dual engine capable of operating with both traditional MDO & LNG, will represent a major breakthrough that would decide the future of green technology.
TASNEEF will provide classification and advisory services, issue mandatory certificates for ship registration, and provide technical and engineering services as well as training.
The shipping & maritime industry is moving towards an increased use of LNG driven primarily by new emissions standards that will come into place in 2015. The emission requirement globally is driving the industry towards the use of cleaner fuels.
Broadly, the LNG efficiency comparison is clearly better than MDO fuel as energy content of LNG is almost double than that of MDO. Further the cost of fuel is also a driving factor as currently, the average price of LNG is nearly half of MDO fuel.
The global fleet of LNG-powered vessels is likely to increase to 1,800 vessels by 2020 as this alternate energy source is gaining more acceptance as the ‘fuel of the future’ among the global maritime community.
Drydocks World and Dubai Maritime City will collaborate with Wärtsilä for design, equipment and related support services for the construction of the tug.
[mappress] drydocks, May 22, 2014