Boluda completes Tier III retrofit

The tug Union Koala, owned by Boluda Towage Europe, has just re-entered service in Zeebrugge, having been converted to comply with IMO Tier III standards. The company, believed to be the first to convert an existing tug in this way, celebrated the project during the second week of January with Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC), the tug’s original engine provider. Engineers from ABC were actively engaged in the conversion which involved the installation of a selective catalytic reduction system. The Union Koala was chosen as the first tug to undergo such a conversion because there was plenty of space available in the engine room for the SCR unit.

Commenting on the project, 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.”