On May 19, 2025, Port of Antwerp-Bruges put the Volta 1 into use, Europe’s first fully electric tugboat of the Reversed Stern Drive (RSD) type.
The Volta 1 is equipped with a battery capacity of 2,782 kWh, which can be fully charged in just two hours via a 1.5 MW charging station. With a pulling force of 70 tons, the tugboat delivers performance that is comparable to traditional diesel tug boats, but then completely emission -free. Thanks to the double bow principle and the patented Twin Fin SKEG, the Volta 1 is exceptionally agile and employable as both front and rear sleeper boat.
The introduction of the Volta 1 is part of a broader renewal of the Sleep Fleet of Port of Antwerp Bruges. Together with five new energy-efficient RSD tugboats, the Volta replaces 1 older vessels, which contributes to the reduction of the CO₂-Moeding the port, the towing service of which is responsible for almost 85%.
The Haven is currently testing various sustainable technologies, including tugboats on hydrogen (hydrotug) and methanol (methatug), to determine which are most effective in the field of emissions, costs, autonomy and performance. The Volta 1 was developed in collaboration with Damen Shipyards Group and built on the Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam. After a trip of more than 10,000 km The tugboat arrived in Antwerp in November 2024, where it was prepared for operational deployment.
