As international pressure mounts to cut maritime emissions, a delegation of 20 journalists from 15 countries inspected Turkey’s electric and hybrid navigation technologies in Istanbul. The tour featured a sea trial of the electric tugboat Gesash Power in Tuzla Bay as part of the lead-up to the COP31 climate summit.
Turkey is showcasing its sustainable shipping initiatives to an international press delegation representing countries including Morocco and Egypt. The field visits form part of the Road to COP31: Sustainable Future
program, coordinated by the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, aiming to highlight national efforts in clean energy and environmental protection.
Journalists Board Electric Tugboat in Tuzla Bay
The international journalists visited the Turkish Shipbuilders Association to examine industry trends toward emission reduction. During a field trip to Tuzla Bay, reporters boarded the electric tugboat Gesash Power to observe its operations firsthand during a sea voyage.
Hakan Alkış, an official with the company Gesash, explained the mechanics of the electric tugs and compared them with conventional diesel-powered vessels. Harbor tugboats handle high-energy tasks like maneuvering and docking ships within restricted geographic zones, making them prime candidates for electrification.
This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to electrify port operations, particularly tasks requiring repeated movements within relatively confined areas. Such marine vessels play a vital role in assisting ships with maneuvering.
Operational Savings and Economic Realities
Hakan Alkış provided detailed briefings regarding the components and functioning of electric tugboats during the visit. Evaluating the economic viability requires a comprehensive comparison between initial investments and operational expenses across the entire operational lifespan of the tugboat.
The total cost for an electric tugboat extends beyond simple energy consumption to encompass the initial purchase price, charging equipment, infrastructure updates, battery lifespan, and eventual replacement costs. Successful deployment depends on a port's ability to schedule charging cycles in harmony with daily operations without disrupting harbor services.
Decarbonization of the maritime sector requires an approach that covers the ship’s lifecycle, from design and construction to operation and recycling.
Potential Application in Arab Ports
From Tanger Med and Casablanca to Egyptian and Gulf facilities, Arab ports might consider electric tugboats to lower emissions and improve local air quality. Yet, direct replication depends on local operating conditions, vessel traffic, power grid capacities, and available charging infrastructure.
Switching to electric tugs does not completely eliminate emissions, as the ultimate climate impact depends heavily on the source of electricity used and the environmental footprint of manufacturing and disposing of batteries. Integrating green port development requires combining electrified equipment with solar and wind energy while measuring practical results instead of relying solely on stated targets. Consequently, studies must also compare overall costs between electric and traditional tugs while estimating emissions across their complete lifecycles.
