Cargill to deploy “world’s first” fully electric pusher boat and barges

Cargill has partnered with the Netherlands-based towage and maritime company Kotug to deploy the “world’s first” fully electric pusher boat and barges.

Kotug International’s zero-emission E-Pusher and E-Barges will be used by Cargill to transport cocoa beans from the Port of Amsterdam to its cocoa factory in Zaandam, the Netherlands.

Cargill stated that pushers and barges are essential and efficient methods of delivering goods by water from Dutch ports. With the deployment, Cargill has claimed that it is the first company globally to put fully electrified pusher and barges for inland shipping, into operation – which it says eliminates emissions and noise pollution.

The vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge propulsion systems, eliminating emissions including CO₂, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Cargill expects the fully electric pusher boats and barges to reduce CO2 emissions by 190,000 kg per year, which is said to be the equivalent of 15,000 one-way trips by truck from the Port of Amsterdam to Cargill’s cocoa factory in Zaandam.

Emiel van Dijk, Cargill’s MD of cocoa and chocolate, Europe and West Africa, said: “Electrifying the transportation of our cocoa beans is just one example of how we are implementing new, innovative sustainable practices to reduce our impact on the planet and protect people. The Kotug E-pusher Type M is the first-of-its-kind and Cargill is excited to be a partner in launching it in the Netherlands.”

Kotug International’s president and CEO, Ard-Jan Kooren, added: “This ground-breaking achievement aligns with our mission to provide sustainable solutions to the maritime industry. By introducing the world’s first zero emission vessel of this set-up we aim to inspire other shipping companies, governments, and stakeholders to embrace clean energy solutions and make significant strides towards achieving the global climate goals for the next generation.”

The boats will run on green energy from the wind farm that Cargill and Swedish power company Vattenfall operate in partnership with Windpark Hanze. Windpark Hanze is a 90-megawatt onshore repowered wind power project, consisting of 15 wind turbines, located in Flevoland, the Netherlands.