K Line’s Seagate orders battery-electric tugboat in Japan

This project aligns with Japan’s aim to decarbonise its coastal shipping industry and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ports.

K Line plans to reduce its carbon emissions through several initiatives, such as introducing carbon-neutral bioLNG, and synthetic and zero-emissions fuels including ammonia and hydrogen.

Once operating, this tug will undertake security operations and assist ships calling at the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu, which seeks to become a carbon-neutral harbour and a hub for supplying green fuels and chemicals from the nearby petrochemical plant.

Another K Line subsidiary Daito Corp has also contracted a shipyard to build an electric-powered tugboat to cut emissions from harbour operations. It will be built with two battery rooms, three back-up generator sets and two azimuth thrusters by 2027 to support ships calling at the Port of Yokohama.

And Japanese owner Tokyo Kisen is developing a purely battery-powered harbour tug design to operate with no greenhouse gas emissions in Japanese ports from 2030. The Yokohama, Japan-headquartered owner has teamed up with Tokyo-based Marindows Inc and e5 Lab Inc to develop the concept, study its feasibility and create its zero-emissions design.

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