Boluda Cuts Towage Emissions by 44.7% Through TEOS Shaft Generator Integration and Fleet-Wide Optimisation
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Boluda Corporación Marítima has improved its towage efficiency performance by 44.7 percent compared to 2020, reducing fleet-wide emissions to 0.026 kilograms of CO2 per gross tonne towed in 2025 through a combination of the Total Energy Optimisation System, hybrid propulsion on newbuild tugs, and software-driven voyage planning. The Spanish group, the world's largest tug owner, received the ITS Innovation of the Year Award 2026 at the 28th International Tug and Salvage Convention in Gothenburg for its implementation of TEOS and its broader decarbonisation programme.
TEOS Technology and Operational Mechanics
The Total Energy Optimisation System, integrated into Boluda's newest azimuth stern drive and advanced Voith tractor tugs built by Damen Shipyards in 2025, centres on a shaft generator that converts the mechanical rotational energy of the main propulsion shaft into electrical power for onboard storage and consumption. The critical commercial advantage of this configuration is the reduction in dependence on auxiliary diesel generators, which have historically been the primary source of electrical power on harbour tugs during operations and idle periods. By capturing energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat or mechanical losses in the drivetrain, TEOS optimises engine loads, reduces fuel consumption, and lowers emissions of CO2, nitrogen oxides, and particulates. Boluda has also highlighted the lifecycle benefits, noting that reduced auxiliary engine running hours improve maintenance intervals and lower total cost of ownership, making the system commercially attractive on a whole-of-life basis rather than purely on an emissions reduction basis.
Fleet Configuration and Newbuild Integration
Four new harbour tugs built by Damen were equipped with integrated tail shaft generators as part of the TEOS implementation, comprising three vessels to the ASD 2312 design and one to Robert Allan's TRAktor 3200-V naval architecture. Boluda has described this shaft generator configuration as establishing a new benchmark for energy management efficiency in high-demand port operations, contrasting it with the traditional model in which electrical generation relies on independent auxiliary units that operate independently of the main propulsion system. The integration of the shaft generator into vessels from two different design origins demonstrates that the technology is compatible with different hull and propulsion architectures, strengthening the case for broader fleet adoption. The TEOS implementation complements Boluda's parallel deployment of hybrid propulsion on newbuild tugs, which further reduces fuel consumption and extends engine maintenance periods across the fleet.
Software and Operational Optimisation
Alongside the hardware-level improvements, Boluda has implemented software systems that support voyage planning, reduce fuel consumption, and optimise tug operations across multiple ports globally. The combination of operational efficiency software with physical propulsion improvements represents the dual-track approach that the company has pursued to drive the 44.7 percent efficiency improvement against its 2020 baseline. Operational optimisation at the voyage and port call level captures efficiency gains that cannot be achieved through propulsion technology alone, including better matching of tug deployment to job requirements, reduction of idle running time, and optimisation of speed and power profiles during escort and harbour operations.
Industry Recognition and Decarbonisation Commitment
Boluda Towage's receipt of the ITS Innovation of the Year Award 2026 at the 28th International Tug and Salvage Convention reflects industry recognition of the practical commercial deployment of decarbonisation technology in harbour towage rather than a demonstration or pilot project. Boluda Corporación Marítima chief executive Antonio Bordils dedicated the award to the team driving Boluda Towage forward and acknowledged the contributions of professionals, suppliers, and stakeholders in achieving the result. The company has framed its wider decarbonisation programme as part of a commitment to advancing greener logistics solutions, promoting intermodal transport and green corridors, and supporting the decarbonisation of supply chains across the global port and shipping ecosystem in which Boluda's towage operations play a central enabling role.
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This article was contributed by an external writer affiliated with our publication.
