K Line orders electric tugboat, UK port trials electric pilot boat

Seagate Corporation, a subsidiary of Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), has ordered the construction of an electric tugboat from Kanagawa Dockyard.

IMAGE: Artemis Technologies’ electric pilot vessel concept. Artemis Technologies

Tugboats are typically used to tow or push larger ships in harbours, rivers, and canals. While the vessel’s direct impact on global greenhouse gas emissions will be limited, it is expected to provide valuable technical and operational insights that could support the development of larger electric ships in the future.

The tugboat will be powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery and is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2027. Once delivered, it will operate at the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu in Japan’s Yamaguchi prefecture.

Meanwhile in the UK, the Port of Tyne has been trialing a fully electric pilot boat on the River Thames. Pilot boats carry navigators to large vessels to guide them safely in and out of ports.

The port earlier this year invested in a new fully electric pilot vessel, designed and built by Irish maritime technology firm Artemis Technologies, with delivery expected in 2026.

The Artemis EF-12 features an electric propulsion system, can recharge in just 60 minutes, and uses hydrofoils to lift its hull above the water—reducing drag and improving energy efficiency.

By Tuhin Roy

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