Hamburg-headquartered energy supply company Mabanaft and Fairplay Towage Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supply hydrogen fuel to Fairplay’s new tugs in the Port of Hamburg from 2025.
Fairplay Towage’s aim is to add tugboats to its fleet in the Port of Hamburg capable of running on hydrogen. This underlines the increased focus on new technologies and more sustainable energies in shipping.
To enable the use of hydrogen-powered tugs, not only hydrogen but also the corresponding infrastructure for bunkering must be provided. The Mabanaft Group, a supplier of marine fuels and operator of tank terminals in the Port of Hamburg, intends to supplement its range of marine fuels with hydrogen and to use its tank terminals in Hamburg for this purpose, in order to be able to supply Fairplay Towage with hydrogen. Hydrogen is considered one of the keys to the decarbonisation of the shipping sector, as it offers an emission-free alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
Volker Ebeling, Mabanaft SVP New Energy, Supply and Infrastructure said: “This agreement with Fairplay Towage is an important step on the road to achieving carbon neutral shipping in the port of Hamburg and we are proud to be working together to decarbonise the industry”
The MoU between Mabanaft and Fairplay Towage marks the start of a long-term strategic cooperation. Under the agreement, Mabanaft plans to supply Fairplay Towage’s hydrogen needs in the Port of Hamburg, ensuring quality, reliability and the highest level of safety.
In 2022, Mabanaft announced its intention to build an ammonia import terminal in the Port of Hamburg, the first step in the development of New Energy Gate, a terminal for sustainable hydrogen products that will make it possible for Hamburg to import large quantities of climate-friendly energy.
