Novatug

NOVATUG - The Carousel Rave Tug – (CRT)

Larger vessels, environmental awareness, health & safety regulations and new funding and operating models are chllenging Port Infrastructure around the world.

Novatug produces a new technology in tugs, the Carrousel Rave Tug (CRT) that can be dragged through the water sideways. CRT typically uses at least 30% less fuel, yet generates 2-3x the line force as a ‘normal’ tug.

How does it work? The key innovation is how the towline is attached to the tug. Rather than use a fixed point, the towline is attached to a large ring or “Carousel” that can rotate. Making minimal use of the tug’s engines, the angle at which the tug is dragged through the water can be adjusted. By changing the angle, the force on the towline can be increased or decreased, and the tug can either brake or steer the vessel it is attached to, much more safely and efficiently than conventional tugs.

The CRT makes use of the excess energy (speed and momentum) of the large vessel it is assisting to help the vessel in and out of port. The Carousel gives powerful and efficient new capabilities, but the CRT can also operate like a traditional tug.

The Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) combines propulsion and steering in one unit and combined with software, in development, to make more subtle use of the huge power generated, the CRT is a formidable entrant to the global tug market.

Electrification is well under way and just aorund the corner.

Do these Carousel Tugs work? Yes. The experience with a full-size prototype confirmed the potential and two new builds commisioned in early 2018. These incorporate the lessons learned from extensive use of the prototype.