New Harbour Tug Design Improves Efficiency and Performance

Svitzer has unveiled its TRAnsverse tug design following successful sea trials, marking a significant development in harbour towage operations. 

The first of its kind, the vessel, named Svitzer Taurus, entered service at the Port of Amsterdam last October and has already achieved remarkable performance improvements. A white paper reveals the tug has recorded an average fuel efficiency gain of 15% compared to older models.

Beyond its impressive fuel economy, the TRAnsverse tug has a marked enhancement in operational capability. The white paper details that, in dynamic modes at speeds exceeding 2–3 knots, the new design expands its operating envelope by roughly 50% when compared with similarly sized standard ASD tugs. 

This expanded envelope allows the tug to undertake a wider variety of jobs more efficiently, addressing the growing challenges of port congestion, larger vessels, and extreme maritime weather conditions.

The innovative design incorporates several unique features that set it apart from traditional tugs, including: 

• Direct and indirect force - the design can generate approximately 50% higher forces than an ASD of comparable size. 
• Push and sidestep - the design allows the tug to side-push effectively in the full speed range up to 10 knots. This allows the tug to instantly respond to pilot commands.
• Hydrodynamic force - better use of hydrodynamic force during pulling means free force during braking. The design can generate usable hydrodynamic force from lower speeds than predominant tug designs. 
• Transition capability - the design has better transition capability, such as during direct pulling, or changing from a 6 to a 3 o’clock position. 

Commenting on the findings, Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer at Svitzer, stated:

“We believe the TRAnsverse tug has the potential to become a game changer in harbour and terminal towage. It can address common port pain points, including severe challenges with port congestion, larger vessels, and more extreme weather conditions. 

We now have solid documentation that the TRAnsverse tug can solve most of the daily jobs faster and better than standard tug designs, meaning it will help prevent delays in the ports, which can be costly and have ripple effects throughout the supply chains”.

Looking forward, industry observers expect that innovations like these will pave the way for smarter, more sustainable practices across global maritime logistics.

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