Kochi: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has begun construction of four advanced battery-electric harbour tugs for global towage and marine services provider Svitzer, with steel cutting for the vessels carried out at the shipyard on September 2.
The vessels are based on Svitzer’s TRAnsverse 2600e design and are being built under a shipbuilding agreement signed between CSL and Svitzer in December 2025. The agreement covers a minimum of four next-generation battery-electric tugs.
The TRAnsverse 2600e is the battery-electric version of Svitzer’s next-generation tug design and has been developed for demanding harbour operations. The vessels are designed to operate in complex and close-quarter environments across different ship types and sizes as well as challenging weather and tidal conditions.
The tugs will feature battery-electric propulsion and, when charged using green power sources, will enable zero direct emissions during port and terminal towage operations.
Cochin Shipyard Chairman and Managing Director Jose V. J. said, “It is a proud moment for CSL to partner with Svitzer for the construction of four fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e harbour tugs, and we look forward to strengthening this association further through our shipbuilding capabilities and expertise. CSL will thus be playing a crucial role in advancing the sector’s decarbonisation goals.”
Svitzer Chief Operating Officer Kasper Karlsen said the TRAnsverse design is aimed at delivering faster and more predictable vessel movements, helping protect berth productivity and turnaround times.
According to Karlsen, vessels of the class have completed more than 3,000 commercial towage jobs, while Svitzer has 18 TRAnsverse vessels under construction worldwide.
Svitzer Managing Director for Asia, Middle East and Africa Deniz Kirdar True said the company evaluated shipyards across the world before selecting CSL.
She said construction of the four fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugs in Kochi would keep advanced green tug-building capability in India and reflects Svitzer’s increasing investment in the Indian maritime supply chain.
CSL said the collaboration aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030, Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and the Make in India programme, while the vessels are capable of supporting the ambitions of India’s Green Tug Transition Programme.
The steel-cutting comes as the government seeks to strengthen domestic shipbuilding. According to the release, the Centre has approved a ₹69,725 crore package to strengthen domestic shipbuilding capacity, maritime financing and skilling.
The Government of India holds 63.33 per cent of CSL. The Kochi-based company is a major shipbuilding and ship repair facility and has handled large commercial and defence projects.
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