The Port of Aarhus has just invested in a new tug for approx. 45 million crowns (6.7 Millions USD). The tug is far more environmentally friendly and highly efficient compared to the tug it needs to replace.

Towing is very much about strength and precision, and when the Port of Aarhus now chooses to invest in a new tugboat, these parameters have also been the focus. But also sustainability has played a significant role in deciding the tug boat replacement.

Customer Manager Nicolai Krøyer says that after an EU tender, the tugboat was purchased by the Turkish shipyard Uzmar Shipbuilding, which together came up with the best solution.

“The yard lived up to all our minimum requirements, and at the same time they can deliver a tugboat that can sail on one engine as we sail back and forth to the ship to be towed, while we can use both ship’s engines during towing,” says Nicolai Krøyer, who points out that it will mean a nice CO2 saving.

The new tugboat, which will be delivered to the Port of Aarhus, in the summer of 2021, is also significantly stronger than the 40-year-old tugboat, Hermes, which will be sold to another side. The new boat can pull 65 tonnes of pile, which is 20 tonnes more than Hermes.

“But not only does it have great strength, it also has significantly better maneuverability and thus efficiency and precision in the work. It can assist the very large vessels arriving in Aarhus with great precision, as it comes with a so-called ASD system (Azimuth Stern Drive), ”says Nicolai Krøyer.

In the future, the Port of Aarhus will also be able to assist East Jutland Fire Department from the water side with the new tugboat, as it will be delivered with a fire spray system.

Aarhus Port’s second tugboat, Aros, continues to work in the port so far, and it will thus have to be used with the new tugboat in cases where two tugboats are needed when entering and leaving the port.

About Port of Aarhus
Port of Aarhus is Denmark’s largest commercial port, with the country’s largest container terminal (market share approx. 65 per cent) and the country’s largest public bulk turnover (approx. 66 per cent). This means that a significant part of the food and non-food products that are imported and exported to and from Denmark are handled via Port of Aarhus.

The EU has recognized Port of Aarhus as a port of European importance, as Port of Aarhus is one of only two Danish Ten-T Core ports, and we are comfortable in international competition with the container ports in e.g. Germany and Holland.

Port of Aarhus has a finely meshed route with connections to most of the world. The world’s largest container ships call at Port of Aarhus – as the only Danish port – every week.

Port of Aarhus is characterized by high efficiency, and free competition between several terminal operators makes Port of Aarhus one of the market’s most competitive – even when it comes to price.

Ships calling at Aarhus can make use of our pilot service, mooring service and tugboats. The port service is available 24/7, all year round and at very short notice. The two tugboats “Aros” and “Hermes“, the pilot boat “Thrym” and the port security boat “Ara” are available.

Port of Aarhus is undergoing rapid development. A new master plan outlines an extension of the port by 180 hectares – corresponding to 50 per cent of the current port area.

Port of Aarhus is a municipal self-governing port with its own board of directors and is operated as an economically independent unit without public subsidies.

(Source: SeaNews)