K Line subsidiary orders electric tug for Japanese ports

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha’s (K Line) subsidiary Daito Corp has contracted a Japanese shipbuilder to construct its first electric tugboat to assist ships in two Japanese ports.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Daizo Corp will build this battery electric tugboat for completion in May 2027, when it will begin towing vessels at Yokohama Port and Kawasaki Port, contributing to the development of carbon-neutral ports in both locations.

This harbour tug will have 3.2 MWh of onboard lithium-ion batteries and charge at the ports using power from renewable resources to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 60% compared with conventional tugboats.

This vessel will have two azimuth thrusters at the stern, two battery rooms, three back-up generator sets, two switchboards and a DC grid, according to the initial design.

Daito said this tug will have a newly developed hull design and automatic control of onboard power demand to optimise energy consumption, using internet-of-things technologies to monitor operations and manage power.

Its construction will be partially funded by Japananese government grants aimed at promoting energy efficiency and the non-fossil energy transition in the transport sector, particularly from the programmes for innovative navigation efficiency and transitioning to non-fossil energy for coastal shipping.

This programme is a collaboration between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

K Line said this electric tug is part of its environmental vision 2050 of blue seas for the future, and of its drive to introduce green networks while promoting environmental management and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.