Page 33 - Logistics News - September October 2022

C O MPANY NE W S

World’s first hydrogen New facility and HO for

tug boat put to the test DHL Global Forwarding

CONSTRUCTION OF the world’s first hydrogen-
powered tug boat, Hydrotug 1, has been completed
in Spain. The tugboat arrived in Belgium last week
where its hydrogen system will be completed and
trials will be run at the Port of Ostend before it
is delivered for service by the end of this year.
Maritime Executive reports that the goal is to have
Hydrotug 1 fully operational at the Port of Antwerp
during the first quarter of 2023.

The tug was built at the Armón Shipyards in DHL GLOBAL Forwarding has inaugurated a new transhipment hub and
Navia, Spain, where it was launched on 16 May in head office in Johannesburg. Located in the Sky Park Industrial Estate with
a demonstration of project partnership between easy access to OR Tambo International Airport, the new airport hub is ready
CMB Tech and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. CMB to support Africa’s growing life sciences and health care (LSH) industry with
Tech, which says it is taking a pioneering role in the safe, reliable and efficient consolidation and transport solutions. Both the
transition of ships to environmentally friendly fuel, warehouse and head office meet the highest sustainability standards and will
also launched the vessel Hydrocat 48 earlier this be almost entirely powered by green electricity from photovoltaic panels.
year. The hydrogen-powered tug is the latest in its
series of projects demonstrating hydrogen-powered Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa,
propulsion. says: “We are proud that this new facility was built to the highest standards
of sustainability and energy efficiency in line with DHL Global Forwarding’s
goal of reaching net-zero logistics-related emissions by 2050.”

The new R127 million facility includes offices and a 10,000m² warehouse.
It will serve as a hub for transport, logistics and warehouse solutions, as well
as international freight expertise for different industries. This includes a
strong focus on Africa’s LSH sector, which, with an expected annual growth
rate of 6.3 percent and anticipated revenue of EUR 7.1 billion by 2023, is
one of the booming industries in the country. To serve the needs of the LSH
According to port officials, Hydrotug 1 can store sector, the site has been designed to meet the DHL Global GxP Pharma
415kg of compressed hydrogen in six racks installed standards and the highest Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA)
on the deck. It is estimated that this eliminates security standards.
emissions equivalent to 350 cars. In addition, each
hydrogen refuelling of Hydrotug 1 saves the total Clement Blanc, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for South Africa (SA)
emissions of one car for one year. & Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), says: “The strategic location of our new facility
at OR Tambo will enable us to enhance our service offering to clients. We
Two BeHydro V12 dual-fuel medium-speed are excited to be able to transport both time- and temperature-sensitive
engines, which can run on both hydrogen and pharmaceutical goods and health products, among other services. I am
traditional fuel, power the tug. It is the first in the confident in our ability to assist our customers in developing and expanding
world to be powered by combustion engines that their businesses and continuing to aid the socio-economic growth of South
burn hydrogen in combination with diesel. The Africa and the greater sub-Saharan African region.”
vessel has a power of 5,500hp.

Ostend was selected as the port of choice The new facility will also create skilled jobs in Johannesburg. DHL Global
for the final outfitting and testing of the new Forwarding has expanded its total workforce in South Africa by 11 percent
tugboat because the vessel uses the hydrogen since 2021. The company also has a strong commitment to supporting and
facilities of CMB TECH’s Hydrocat 48, which driving the participation of SMEs in the economy and ensuring that they
operates from the port. • have a place in global supply chains. •

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