UAE-based energy company Tristar Group has added a biofuel-electric bunkering barge to its fleet, said to be the first of its kind in the region.
The sustainably-operated vessel has been time-chartered by TotalEnergies Marketing Middle East in the Port of Fujairah. The 750m3 Tristar Eco Voyager features a hybrid engine design with electric and biofuel power, coupled to an advanced powertrain.
Eugene Mayne, Founder and CEO, Tristar Group, said: “It is a real honour to deliver a ground-breaking vessel, but the Tristar Eco Voyager is more than an innovation or the latest addition to our fleet. It personifies our belief that the maritime industry can, and must, play a transformative role in the global transition to cleaner energy and lower-carbon logistics. We are glad to set an example.”
The hybrid barge will supplement TotalEnergies Lubmarine division’s ship-to ship operations in Fujairah.
Mayne continued: “We are pleased that our decades-long partnership with TotalEnergies is being strengthened with a pioneering sectoral solution. This cements our shared commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.”
Thomas Vigneron, MD TotalEnergies Marketing Middle East, added: “Collaborating with Tristar Group to launch the region’s inaugural hybrid bunkering barge enhances our operational capabilities. It also highlights our dedication to fostering positive change in the UAE through the adoption of innovative and sustainable solutions.”
The Tristar Eco Voyager’s advanced hybrid propulsion system and innovative technical features are expected to amply support Tristar and TotalEnergies’ aspirations for cleaner shipping solutions. Its engine system is compatible with a mix of electricity and biofuels which allows for greater operational flexibility, along with vastly reduced emissions. The new barge is expected to achieve approximately 35% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional models, and planned electric charging installations at the Port of Fujairah will enable it to operate almost entirely on electric power in the future and achieve zero emissions while at berth.
The Tristar Eco Voyager is considered to offer a practical, immediately deployable solution for the maritime industry’s global push toward low-carbon shipping, and improved air quality in busy port areas. As the first vessel of its kind in the UAE and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), it demonstrates a viable path to decarbonisation and encourages similar investments in greener technologies.
Image: ‘Tristar Eco Voyager’ (source: Tristar/Lubmarine)
