Partnership to deliver Europe’s 1st hybrid Ekotug

On the occasion of the International Tug & Salvage Conference in Antwerp Aspin, Kemp and Associates (AKA), based at Ontario, Canada, announced the construction of Europe’s first hybrid tugboat in partnership with KOTUG International. The Rotor Tug "Adriaan", presently operating in the Port of Rotterdam, will be retrofitted with a XeroPoint Hybrid Propulsion System. This conversion will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011 and will be the first Ekotug to join the KOTUG fleet.

AKA’s XeroPoint Hybrid system is said to be able to configure the various components to operate only when needed, and only within their optimal range to help operators realize significant improvements in efficiency and reduction of fuel consumption and emissions.