Page 32: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2021)

KOTUG’s E-Pusher Series

Advances Fuel Flexibility

KOTUG’EPhiiflibltdibildd KOTUG’s new E-Pusher series is flexible to design, build and operate, with an eye on vessels that are efficient and help cut emissions for inner cities. Almar van Herk, Senior Business

Development Manager, KOTUG, discussed the concept and the plan with Maritime Reporter TV.

By Greg Trauthwein arlier this year, KOTUG established an inland ship- track an electric pusher tug series. “The biggest challenge in ping division premised on electric powered pusher the shipping market today is ‘how do we go about with the tugs featuring ‘swappable’ energy containers and energy transition?’” The company saw the start of activities

E smart AI-driven dispatch and route planning appli- for the inland shipping market as a natural development and cations for the inland water transportation industry. a step forward in its ambition to be part of the solution of the

There are many simultaneous efforts globally to decarbon- transition towards a zero-emission maritime industry.

ize the maritime sector, and inclusion of KOTUG in the con- The E-Pusher Series is touted as a range of modular and versation helps drive others to the design table. KOTUG is a scalable electric pusher tugs, powered by swappable energy fourth-generation family owned Dutch company which, since containers. To date, the E-Pusher Series has three models – its start in 1911, has a long history of innovation leadership in the S, the M and the L – ranging from 5.5 to 22 meters in the space – including the establishment of Rotortug in 1996 length and a maximum depth of 0.45 to 1.35 meters, which the as the shipbuilding and trading arm of KOTUG International. company claims is a draft that is 30% less than conventional

The move for KOTUG to establish the new inland ship- pusher tug designs, all on a steel or aluminum frame with two ping division was a move driven simultaneously by the global or three electric thursters. energy transition and the continuing modal shift from road to “We already started with serving city logistics with the water for ef? cient movement of goods E-Pusher S series,” said van Herk, noting that via KOTUG “As a marine company with a strong heritage, a long tra- CityBarge B.V. it started activities in Leiden with a 5.5m E- dition, we are developing on a range of activities,” said van Pusher (pictured above) providing a zero-emission alternative

Herk in discussing the rationale behind the decision to fast- for heavy truck transport in inner-cities. KOTUG CityBarge 32 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2021

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