Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) on Friday (8 November) said Daito Corporation (Daito), its consolidated subsidiary, has decided to build an electric tugboat, an electric vessel (EV) powered by a large-capacity lithium-ion battery.
A signing ceremony for a collaboration agreement regarding the construction of the EV tugboat with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) and Daizo Corporation (Daizo) was held on the same day.
This initiative is part of the subsidised, Grant Program for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Non-Fossil Energy Transition in the Transportation Sector (Innovative Navigation Efficiency and Transition to Non-Fossil Energy for Coastal Shipping), a collaboration between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, playing a significant role in the coastal shipping industry’s environmental initiatives.
The EV tugboat is being constructed at Daizo, the shipbuilder, with the cooperation of KHI providing the control and propulsion systems and its integration. The completion is scheduled for May 2027, and it will offer towage service for vessels at Yokohama Port and Kawasaki Port, contributing to the development of carbon-neutral ports (CNP) in both locations.
