Battery-powered tug for Kandla Port

Echandia has been selected to supply the 4.4 MWh battery system for the electric port tug, which will be deployed at Deendayal Port Authority under the Government of India’s Green Tug Transition Program. 

“This project is an important step for India’s green maritime transition and for high-performance electric tug operations,” said Torbjörn Bäck, CEO of Echandia.

“We are proud to deliver the battery system for India’s first fully electric tug and to support Kandla Port in building a cleaner and more efficient port ecosystem.”

Greener tugs

This project aims to enable zero-emission operations at one of the country’s most strategically important port hubs, reducing air pollution while supporting safer, quieter and more efficient harbour services.

The battery system has been designed for a 15-year operational lifetime, aligned with the charter agreement between Ripley Group and Deendayal Port Authority.

Kongsberg Maritime has been appointed as system integrator, while Echandia was selected through a competitive tender process.

A critical requirement was the ability to deliver 30,000 charge cycles over the vessel’s lifetime without mid-life battery replacement. Delivery is scheduled for Q3 2026.

The tug will be the first in a wider electrification programme, with 16 additional electric vessels planned by 2027 and a longer-term target of 400 by 2040.

Echandia’s involvement builds on its existing Indian portfolio, which includes battery systems for water buses in Kochi and the Varanasi ferry network, reinforcing its role in decarbonising port infrastructure and reducing port emissions across the region.