Svitzer delivers its 1st-ever EcoTow solution in Australia with Höegh Autoliners

Svitzer, a leading global towage provider, and Höegh Autoliners, a leading global provider of ocean-transportation services in the roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) segment, have partnered to deliver Svitzer’s first ever EcoTow solution in Australia, servicing the largest and most environmentally friendly car-carrier vessel class in the world on its call to four ports Down Under.

The Höegh Aurora’s maiden voyage to Australia occurred in late December, departing Dec. 30 after completing a four-port visit to Australia where it transported cars to the Australian retail-automotive market via ports at Fremantle, Melbourne, Port Kembla and Brisbane.

EcoTow is Svitzer’s proprietary carbon-insetting solution, and it has provided a near 100 percent reduction in CO2 emissions relating to the towage operations of Höegh Aurora’s port calls during her maiden voyage to Australia.

With the EcoTow solution, the carbon emissions from towage jobs are mass balanced by carbon credits generated by Svitzer’s use of biofuel across its international towage operations.

The neutralization effect is established by an external auditor and documented through certification and assurance reporting.

Towage is one of the largest carbon emitters in port operations in Australia, and Svitzer has a comprehensive decarbonization strategy targeting its reduction, including via biofuel- and battery-powered tugs.

The Höegh Aurora is a multifuel-capable vessel, cutting carbon emissions per car transported by 58 percent compared to the current industry standard.

The uptake of EcoTow by Höegh Autoliners in Australia highlights the significant progress in maritime decarbonization and potential net-zero operations possible in the future, Svitzer noted.

In September, Svitzer also contracted the build of the world’s first battery-electric/methanol hybrid TRAnsverse tug, which will offer carbon-neutral towage for the majority of the tug’s operations.

The tug design offers port authorities and shipping-line companies a towage solution able to support sustainable green-port and green-shipping-corridor ambitions.

“Höegh Autoliners is whole-heartedly set on achieving our 2040 net-zero emissions goal, and the EcoTow agreement with Svitzer on the Höegh Aurora’s visit to Australia illustrates our ongoing commitment in meeting these goals,” said Sebjørn Dahl, Höegh Autoliners’ chief operations officer.

“We are proud to have secured the first-ever low-carbon towage service in Australia and it is only appropriate that our innovative, world-leading Aurora class vessel delivers this first, providing the opportunity to further reduce the carbon footprint of our customers’ value chains,” Dahl said.

Videlina Georgieva, Svitzer’s managing director for Australia, added, “This is an exciting step forward for decarbonizing shipping in Australia—and a demonstration of the significant contribution maritime can make toward a net-zero future. “We commend Höegh Autoliners for the industry leadership they have shown and their commitment to driving a cleaner, more sustainable future. We are thankful for the opportunity to work closely with our customers to reduce emissions while also providing sustainable, safe and reliable marine services.”

Svitzer has ambitious decarbonization goals to have fully carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and to reduce the carbon intensity of its tugboat fleet by 50 percent by 2030.

“We hope this initiative provides some further impetus to the policy landscape in Australia where there is a major, but largely unmet, opportunity to accelerate bioenergy and electrification solutions in maritime decarbonization,” Georgieva added.