Kongsberg Maritime to equip Svitzer’s electric tugs

Norway-based marine technology firm Kongsberg Maritime will supply the complete equipment package for a series of electric tugboats for towage company Svitzer.

IMAGE: Model of the electric tugboats. Kongsberg Maritime

A tugboat is a vessel used to tow or push larger vessels in harbours, rivers, or canals.

The four tugboats will be built in India’s Cochin Shipyard, with options for four additional units in the future, Kongsberg Maritime said.

The maritime technology company will provide the vessels with azimuth thrusters – a marine propulsion unit housed in a pod that can rotate horizontally – powered by 2,000kW permanent magnet motors.

“Each tug will be primarily powered by a 4,8MWh battery pack,” the company said. The thrusters are expected to provide “high propulsion efficiency,” it added.

Kongsberg Maritime will also provide automation systems and towing equipment that will improve manoeuvrability of the vessels.

Although the immediate impact that this small-scale electric vessel will have on global greenhouse gas emissions might be limited, the vessel holds significance as it provides crucial technical and operational insights that can inform the development of larger-scale electric vessels in the future.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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