Brussels, May 22 -- Antwerp Port, one of Europe's largest, has launched its first electric tugboat, Volta 1, manufactured in Vietnam, showcasing the country's green shipbuilding capabilities.

The electrification of tugboats aligns with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transport, a sector with significant CO2 output. Replacing diesel-powered tugboats along the Scheldt River, Volta 1, built by a Dutch company in Vietnam, is noted as Europe's first electric tug of its kind. Its advanced batteries reportedly enable 12-hour operations with a 70-ton pull, emitting no direct CO2.

It is under consideration whether Volta 1 will be a model for the port's fleet.

Jacques Vermeiren, CEO of Antwerp-Bruges Port, said the port is testing ...