The strategy will see Svitzer decarbonise in two phases. Firstly, Svitzer is aiming to reduce the CO2 intensity of its entire fleet by 50% by 2030. This will pave the way for fully carbon neutral operations just ten years’ later in 2040, which is in line with A.P. Moller-Maersk’s ambition.  

As part of the strategy, Svitzer will invest time and capital to embed sustainability throughout its business, in day-to-day operations, in people and how they do their jobs, in its fleet and through the types of fuel used by its vessels. 

Svitzer will measure progress against a 2020 baseline, which saw the company’s fleet of approximately 400 vessels emit 280,000 tonnes of CO2, or the same amount as 110,000 cars.  

Svitzer has already implemented process changes to help spur improved efficiency across its fleet. For example, the company’s ‘Aim for 8’ initiative – which asks crew to optimise their speed during tug mobilisation and demobilisation – has saved over 255 tonnes of Marine Gas Oil (Diesel) in the UK alone. Initiatives like these which influence the behaviour of our staff, combined with improved vessel connectivity, integrated performance monitoring across Svitzer’s fleet and improvements to scheduling optimisation, will help drive down emissions in the short term.  

Svitzer will also focus on changing the fuel mix of its fleet. The success of the organisation’s EcoTow project, which has seen Svitzer’s entire fleets in London, Felixstowe, and Southampton switch to low carbon biofuels, is currently being replicated more widely across ports in the UK and to the company’s global operations. Svitzer will also begin to explore methanol as a fuel for towage and, in the long-term, take required steps to retrofit and renew its fleet in order to operate on low carbon fuel solutions.  

Finally, Svitzer will focus on improving the efficiency of its fleet from a design perspective. As part of this, the company will launch its new and innovative TRAnsverse Tug design, which can generate higher steering forces than most designs of similar dimensions in a smaller, more nimble package with a reduced environmental footprint. The Robert Allan design will come into operation from Q3 2023.   

Commenting on the decarbonisation strategy, Kasper Nilaus, CEO, Svitzer, said:

“We are proud to unveil our strategy to become fully carbon neutral by 2040. We are not committing to these ambitions lightly and understand that it will require leadership and collaboration with our customers, suppliers, industry peers, and ports around the world to ensure success. Widespread changes and investment into the way we work, the fuel we burn, and the composition of our fleet will be required.  

“The work has already started, and the whole team at Svitzer is invigorated by the opportunity to contribute to solving this truly global challenge. We hope that by leading the way for towage we will be able to generate the cleaner, greener future that our children, our industry, ports around the globe and our oceans deserve.  

“We recognise that we can’t do this alone. Collaboration and partnerships with our customers and suppliers will be key, and we look forward to taking the industry along with us in our journey to become carbon neutral by 2040.” 

Gareth Prowse, Head of Decarbonisation, Svitzer, added:

“The decarbonisation strategy we are launching today is ambitious and sets a clear roadmap for Svitzer but, most importantly, it is absolutely achievable if we focus on the right areas to generate real progress. That is why we have split our strategy into three pillars: behaviour, equipment, and fuel, and we will focus on each of these in a step change fashion to bring about carbon neutrality in a way that works for our customers and maintains the high level of service Svitzer is known for.”