Sparky named in Time’s Best Inventions of 2022

Sparky is the world’s first full-sized ship handling electric tug. It arrived at Ports of Auckland in June this year and is expected to save around 465 tonnes of CO2 in diesel emissions annually.

The e-tug is the result of a six-year collaboration between Ports of Auckland and Damen Shipyards – which took on the project in 2016. 

The Damen RSD-E Tug 2513 has a 70 tonne bollard pull, the same as the port’s strongest diesel tug Hauraki, also built by Damen. 

It features 80 battery racks holding 2240 batteries, totalling 2784 kWh of power. 

Sparky is designed to do up to four shipping moves on a charge of batteries. Recharge time is about two hours.

For Allan D’Souza, Ports of Auckland’s marine and multi cargo operations general manager, who led the e-tug project for the port, Sparky is a dream come true.

“Back in 2016, when we first pitched the idea for a fully electric tug, we were told we were dreaming. 

“To see Sparky in real life and outperforming expectations is brilliant. It’s all smiles now but it wasn’t all plain sailing, there were challenges along the way when COVID-19 hit, borders closed, and we couldn’t get to the ship building yard to see her progress in person. 

“To see her moving ships for us is wonderful,” D’Souza says.

Port chief executive Roger Gray says he’s delighted for the team who worked virtually and across three continents during COVID-19.

“I would like to thank the ports’ marine team and acknowledge our partner Damen Shipyards for their work. 

“When the project started there were no emissions-free ship-handling options around; however, Damen were up for the challenge and now they’ve changed the game with our e-tug Sparky.

“Sparky is the first e-tug of its type in the world and was a truly innovative project for us. She is helping us step towards the ports’ decarbonisation of operations and towards our long-term emissions reduction goals.

“E-tugs are the future for ship handling and Ports of Auckland are proud to have led the way. We are looking forward to seeing the rest of the industry follow her lead,” Gray says.

Sparky recently won Tug of the Year at the 2022 International Tug and Salvage Awards and is a finalist in the New Zealand Sustainable Business Network Awards. 

“You’ll be able to spot Sparky on Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour as her superstructure is painted bright green, unlike our blue diesel tugs. What you won’t notice is noise or smoke; being electric she’s a lot quieter, and cleaner, than our current diesel tugs,” D’Souza says.