The EV tugboat is being constructed at Daizo with scheduled for May 2027. Credit: “K” LINE.

Daito Corporation, a subsidiary of Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” LINE), has announced lans to build an electric tugboat powered by a large-capacity lithium-ion battery.

The initiative aims to enhance environmental sustainability in maritime operations.

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Daito held a signing ceremony for a collaboration agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Daizo Corporation to construct the electric vessel (EV) tugboat.

The EV tugboat will feature a high-capacity battery of 3.2MWh, operating on green electricity charged into the battery.

This approach significantly reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional tugboats equipped with heavy fuel oil engines.

The innovative hull design and automatic control of onboard power demands optimise energy consumption.

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The project is expected to result in around a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional tugboats.

This initiative is part of the Grant Programme for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Non-Fossil Energy Transition in the Transportation Sector, a collaboration between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

KHI will offer the control and propulsion systems and their integration for the tugboat.

Completion is scheduled for May 2027, with the tugboat providing towage services at Yokohama Port and Kawasaki Port and driving the development of carbon-neutral ports in both locations.

“K” LINE Group’s long-term environmental policy, “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 – Blue Seas for the Future, establishes and operates the DRIVE GREEN NETWORK framework to promote environmental management.

In September 2024, aligning with its sustainable push,“K”LINE took delivery of its liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered car carrier,  NEREUS HIGHWAY, from China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding (Jiangsu).