Boluda Towage Europe has made history by becoming the first towage company in Europe to convert an existing operational tugboat to IMO Tier III standards.
According to a statement, the ‘Union Koala’ was officially certified for compliance on January 10 2020 during a ceremony at the ABC Tower in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
To ensure the tugboat complied with regulations and cut down on carbon emissions, the company worked closely with engine supplier Anglo Belgian Corporation.
The parties implemented a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system in the tugboat’s engine.
An SCR is an advanced active emissions control technology system that injects a liquid-reducing agent into the exhaust system of an engine and reduces emissions.
It will now be retained for use in the Port of Zeebrugge and contribute to the Port’s own emission-cutting targets.
Boluda Towage Europe said the ‘Union Koala’ was chosen because it had available space its engine for installing the SCR system.
Boluda Towage Europe’s CEO Geert Vandecappelle said: “As a long-term partner of the Port of Zeebrugge, Boluda Towage Europe has committed itself through this project to the port authority’s environmental objectives.
“I am proud that through a joint effort, our technical department, Anglo Belgian Corporation and Flanders Ship Repair have brought this challenging project to a successful conclusion.”