Japan has unveiled plans for its first pure battery-powered electric tug, marking a major step in vessel electrification for the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki.
Tokyo Kisen Co. Ltd and Marindows Inc. have begun development of a fully electric harbour tugboat as part of the government’s Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) policy.
Scheduled for completion in 2030, the vessel will operate solely on a massive 6.66MWh onboard lithium-ion battery, supported by megawatt-class fast chargers.
Hybrid to electric
The project builds on the success of Tokyo Kisen’s 2023 launch of TAIGA, Japan’s first series-hybrid electric tug, which housed a 2,486kWh battery.
Building on two and a half years of operating experience with hybrid electric-powered tugs, this project is looking to advance to the next stage, enabling truly zero-emission (zero CO₂) operations, by developing and constructing a pure battery-powered EV tugboat.
Planned to achieve speeds of 14 knots and a maximum bollard pull of 53 tonnes, the vessel will be capable of handling demanding harbour duties while producing zero CO₂ emissions.
Onshore infrastructure will include two 2,000kWh battery systems and 1,000kW shore-to-ship fast chargers.
Development will progress through feasibility studies in 2025, design phases in 2026 and 2027 and construction in 2028, with commercial service starting in 2030.
The initiative reinforces Japan’s push towards sustainable maritime transport.
