TUG provider Svitzer and Höegh Autoliners have partnered deliver Svitzer’s first ever EcoTow solution in Australia, servicing the shipping line on its call to four ports across the country.
Svitzer states that EcoTow is the providors proprietary carbon insetting solution, and has provided a near 100% reduction in CO2 emissions relating to the towage operations of Höegh Aurora’s port calls during her maiden voyage to Australia.
EcoTow sees the carbon emissions from towage jobs mass balanced by carbon credits generated by Svitzer’s use of biofuel across its towage operations.
The neutralisation effect, Svitzer says, is established by an external auditor and documented through certification and assurance reporting.
Svitzer hailed the uptake of EcoTow by Höegh Autoliners in Australia as highlighting the significant progress in maritime decarbonisation and potential net zero operations possible in the future.
Svitzer highlighted its own comprehensive decarbonisation strategy targeting reduction including via biofuel and battery powered tugs, adding that towage is one of the largest carbon emitters in port operations in Australia.
Sebjørn Dahl, chief operations officer at Höegh Autoliners, said, “Höegh Autoliners is whole-heartedly set on achieving our 2040 net-zero emissions goal, and the EcoTow agreement with Svitzer on the Höegh Aurora’s visit to Australia illustrates our ongoing commitment in meeting these goals”.
“We are proud to have secured the first-ever, low-carbon towage service in Australia and it is only appropriate that our innovative, world-leading Aurora Class vessel delivers this first, providing the opportunity to further reduce the carbon footprint of our customers’ value chains.”
Svitzer’s managing director for Australia, Videlina Georgieva, said, “This is an exciting step forward for decarbonising shipping in Australia – and a demonstration of the significant contribution maritime can make toward a Net Zero future”.
“We commend Höegh Autoliners for the industry leadership they have shown and their commitment to driving a cleaner, more sustainable future. We are thankful for the opportunity to work closely with our customers to reduce emissions while also providing sustainable, safe and reliable marine services.
“Svitzer has ambitious decarbonisation goals to have fully carbon neutral operations by 2040 and to reduce the carbon intensity of its tugboat fleet by 50 per cent by 2030.”
Georgieva said Svitzer hopes this initiative provides some further impetus to the policy landscape in Australia where it believes there is a major, largely unmet, opportunity to accelerate bioenergy and electrification solutions in maritime decarbonisation.
In September, Svitzer contracted the build of the world’s first battery electric-methanol hybrid TRAnsverse tug, which will reportedly offer carbon neutral towage for the majority of the tug’s operations.
The tug design offers port authorities and shipping line companies a towage solution able to support sustainable ‘Green Port’ and ‘Green Shipping Corridor’ ambitions, Svitzer said.
The Höegh Aurora’s maiden voyage to Australia occurred in late December 2024, departing 30 December after completing a four-port visit to Australia where it discharged cars via ports at Fremantle, Melbourne, Port Kembla, and Brisbane.
