Caterpillar customer, Svitzer, is the world’s largest tug operator. Through its EcoTow program, a three-pronged approach to implementing sustainability and fuel flexibility solutions is in action — human behavior, equipment and fuel.

To gauge the feasibility of operating a fully biofuel-powered fleet, Svitzer and Caterpillar joined forces to conduct two EcoTow pilots. The goal is for learnins from the pilot programs to be implemented across the fleet. 

Caterpillar has been developing biofuel use for more than a decade. In a United Kingdom-based pilot in 2021, five vessels, each with two Cat® 3516C main engines and two C4.4 auxiliary engines, were put to the test. All 10 engines operated on 100% hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). 

Svitzer and Caterpillar monitored performance — fuel quality, load response and engine health. Caterpillar also provided special maintenance recommendations and guidelines to identify and address any abnormal wear and tear.

Svitzer has since expanded the use of HVO in its tugs throughout the United Kingdom and embarked on a second EcoTow pilot in the Netherlands. There, two vessels powered by the same Cat engines are operating on 100% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), a different biofuel.

With Caterpillar’s help, Svitzer can compare the qualities and performance of FAME and HVO. This kind of collaboration allows our customers to deploy fuel flexibility solutions at a large scale, paving the way for the industry’s wider adoption of biofuels.