Singapore’s Sembcorp Marine has unveiled Singapore first tug vessel running entirely on liquefied natural gas engine, to be used in operations at its flagship Tuas Boulevard Yard.
The JMS Sunshine will avoid emissions of approximately 251 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent compared to a conventional diesel tug, according to a Sembmarine spokesperson.
When delivered, JMS Sunshine will be deployed in Sembmarine’s yards for ship manoeuvring, mooring and unmooring operations. It can also be deployed by ship operators to escort vessels within Singapore port limits.
Sembmarine said its investment underlined the development of its leading Singapore yard as “a future-proof, smart and sustainable facility”.
The company on Wednesday confirmed its plans to build a fleet of tugs to progressively replace the existing diesel-powered fleet operated by wholly owned subsidiary Jurong Marine Services (JMS).
JMS Sunshine is designed by LMG Marin, a Norwegian wholly owned subsidiary of Sembmarine. The tug, which is classed by ABS, has a Cyber Secure 1 notation to safeguard the asset from growing cyber threats faced by the marine and offshore industry.
JMS Sunshine runs on pure LNG with an energy storage system based on Lithium ion battery to allow emission-free operation of the tug during idling and low speed transit.
Stringent emissions regulations
Simon Kuik, Sembmarine’s head of R&D, said: “Emission regulations on marine vessels are getting more stringent every year. The ultimate goal is to cut the group’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.
“To stay ahead of the curve, we invest selectively in innovative design solutions. Sembmarine has consequently aligned its strategic position to develop a suite of sustainable product solutions specifically tailored to address the shift towards a low-carbon economy.”
Sembmarine chief executive Wong Weng Sun commented that the company is also “directly contributing to Singapore’s strategy on climate change and decarbonisation, and the International Maritime Organisation’s strategy to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”.
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