Aspin, Kemp and Associates (AKA) 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.
Ard-Jan Kooren, President and CEO of KOTUG, stated “We are very happy to be working with AKA on this exciting project. Like AKA, KOTUG has established a reputation as an innovator in the work boat industry. Our Rotor Tug concept is an example of our ability to turn a good idea into reality. We believe that introducing AKA’s hybrid technology into our fleet is the next step in demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the environment.”
AKA’s award winning XeroPoint Hybrid system has proven successful in reducing emissions and creating significant fuel and maintenance cost savings. Jason Aspin, AKA’s CEO, remarked “AKA is pleased to be working with KOTUG in the continued deployment of practical hybrid solutions in the workboat industry. We are fortunate to have clients like KOTUG that recognize technology’s role in improving their environmental performance.”
AKA is committed to incorporating innovative advances in energy storage technologies as evidenced by the use of Corvus Energy’s advanced lithium polymer batteries for this project.