RT Emotion - Germany's First Hybrid Tug Named

The first hybrid tug to operate in German waters was officially named during a party held Thursday in the Port of Bremerhaven.

Annika Bootsman-Kleberg, Member of the Wallenius’ Board and granddaughter of Olof Wallenius, Swedish entrepreneur and founder of Wallenius Lines, had the honor of naming the tug RT Emotion before family, friends and KOTUG’s business relations and representatives of Damen Shipyards Group.

The Damen-built RT Emotion was previously handed over to its owner Elisabeth Ltd. in March and is on bareboat charter to KOTUG International, one of the world’s leading towage operators.

RT Emotion is of the ART 80-32 Hybrid Rotortug design and is one of three E-KOTUG series Rotortugs for KOTUG.

RT Emotion commenced her towage activities in the German Port of Bremerhaven recently while sister tugs RT Adriaan and RT Evolution are operating in the Port of Rotterdam.

RT Evolution and RT Emotion, both 32- meters, are next-generation hybrid ART80-32 Rotortugs are new Damen-built tugs and designed by an alliance of Rotortug B.V. in the Netherlands and Robert Allan Ltd in Canada. The RT Adriaan has been operating in the Port of Rotterdam since 2010 and was converted to the E-KOTUG design in January 2012. The vessel was the first hybrid Rotortug built to class.

The results of the E-KOTUG series are 50% less harmful emissions, significant noise reduction, cleaner combustion and substantial maintenance savings thanks to improved fuel economy. The Rotortug’s hybrid capacity is generated by three electric motors, complemented by a battery pack and managed by an intelligent XeroPoint Hybrid Propulsion System.