Europe’s first electric tugboat: “Volta 1” in Antwerp

May 20, 2025

Europe’s first fully electric tugboat is now in operation in the twin port of Antwerp-Zeebrugge.

The “Volta 1” can sail for up to 12 hours without interruption, delivering the same performance as a diesel-powered vessel.

The “Volta 1” is an RSD (Reversed Stern Drive) tugboat, which is designed according to the twin bow principle. It has a so-called twin finger skeg, which is designed to guarantee high stability and maneuverability and enables it to tow both fore and aft. With its battery capacity of 2,782 MWh, the “Volta 1” is operated completely without direct emissions and can sail for 12 hours. It can be recharged within two hours via a 1.5 MW charging station. According to the port operator, its tractive force of 70 tons guarantees the same performance as a conventional diesel tug.

Volta 1, Damen, Batterie, Antwerpen — The “Volta 1” is fully charged within two hours (© Port of Antwerp-Bruges)

With the introduction of the tugboat, Antwerp-Zeebrugge’s environmental program is making further progress. The port aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. The “Volta 1” was developed in collaboration with the Damen Shipyards Group. The tug follows on from earlier innovations such as the hydrogen-powered “Hydrotug” and “Methatug”, which uses methanol.

Antwerp puts six new tugs into operation

Together with the “Volta 1”, five more RSD tugs with energy-efficient diesel engines have been put into operation. This should reduce the port’s CO₂emissions enormously: Tug operations account for 85% of total emissions.

“The ‘Volta 1’ is a good example of our strategy of actively integrating sustainable technologies into our operations,” said CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “As a global port, we take our responsibility to involve the maritime sector in the energy transition seriously. ‘Volta 1’ is not a symbolic gesture, but a concrete step on the way to a climate-neutral port by 2050.”

Vincent Maes, Sales Manager Benelux Damen: “We are delighted and honored to have delivered the latest additions to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges tug fleet,” said Vincent Maes, Sales Manager Benelux at Damen. “This delivery is perfectly in line with our ongoing commitment to better vessels and technological progress. We are pleased to be able to contribute to the port’s ambitious sustainability goals.”

As the fifth largest bunker port in the world, Antwerp-Zeebrugge also wants to become a fully-fledged multi-fuel port. To this end, low-carbon alternatives such as hydrogen and methanol are to be offered in addition to biofuels and conventional fuels.

The partnership with the Damen Shipyards Group will play a key role in this transformation, it is said. Damen, which built the world’s first electric tugboat in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2022, began building the six RSD tugs for Antwerp in Vietnam in 2023. After a journey of more than 10,000 km, the ships arrived in Belgium in November 2024. There they were prepared for their deployment, including technical commissioning, crew training and installation of the charging infrastructure. The official launch of the “Volta 1” marks the highlight of this journey.