SVITZER has signed an agreement to fuel a fleet of tugs with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).
The towage provider on entered an EcoTow agreement with South Hook, an LNG terminal at the Port of Milford Haven in the UK.
Svitzer believes the long-term deal would significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the five tugs servicing the LNG discharging at South Hook.
It said the switch from marine gas oil (MGO) to HVO does not require modifications to equipment or engines.
Mattias Hellstrom, European chief commercial officer at Svitzer Europe, said the company was delighted to work with South Hook LNG Terminal to deliver a more sustainable fleet of towage vessels in Milford Haven.
“We look forward to continuing working with South Hook to operate vessels that benefit the local port environment through reduced particulate emissions,” he said.
“Running these vessels on HVO also means Svitzer is able to continue cutting carbon emissions across its UK operations.”
Svitzer claims the switch from MGO to HVO in its UK fleet last year prevented more than 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere.
It said after the five tugs in South Hook LNG Terminal are converted, Svitzer will be closer to having converted its entire UK fleet to low-carbon fuels.
South Hook LNG Terminal is the first terminal at the Port of Milford Haven to switch its towage contract to low-carbon fuels.
