Cochin Shipyard begins construction of Svitzer’s advanced battery-electric tugs in India

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Svitzer, a leading global towage and marine services provider, began construction of four advanced battery-electric tugs at a formal steel-cutting ceremony held at Cochin Shipyard. The vessels are among the most advanced green tugs being built anywhere in the world.

The ceremony follows the shipbuilding agreement signed last year between CSL and Svitzer for a series of four next-generation, battery-electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugs. The agreement, signed in December 2025, covers a minimum of four vessels and reflects Svitzer’s increasing investment in the Indian maritime supply chain.

The CSL-Svitzer collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening India’s maritime manufacturing ecosystem, aligning with national priorities under Maritime India Vision 2030, Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and the Government of India’s “Make in India” programme. Built to Svitzer’s specifications, the vessels are highly advanced tugs capable of serving the ambitions of India’s Green Tug Transition Programme, while building domestic capability in electric propulsion and high-specification vessel construction that stays rooted in India.

The ceremony was attended by Jose V. J., Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited, along with senior leadership from Svitzer, including Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer, and Deniz Kirdar True, Managing Director – Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), and other key stakeholders.

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, adding that CSL looks forward to strengthening this association further through its shipbuilding capabilities and expertise, playing a crucial role in advancing the sector’s decarbonisation goals.

The TRAnsverse 2600e is the battery-electric version of Svitzer’s next-generation tug design, developed for demanding harbour operations. Often described as the “Swiss Army Knife” of tugs, the TRAnsverse design is capable of operating in complex and close-quarter environments, across different ship types and sizes and under challenging weather and tidal conditions. The vessels feature battery-electric propulsion and, when charged using green power sources, will enable zero direct emissions for port and terminal towage operations.

Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer, Svitzer, said the TRAnsverse is designed to remove constraints in customers’ operations, delivering faster and more predictable vessel movements that protect berth productivity and turnaround times, allowing a port to get more from the berths, channels and pilots it already has without a proportional increase in fleet size or new infrastructure. He said this is proven technology, with over 3,000 commercial towage jobs already completed with the class, and Svitzer has 18 TRAnsverse vessels under construction worldwide.

Deniz Kirdar True, Managing Director – AMEA, Svitzer, said the company evaluated shipyards across the world before selecting CSL, adding that the four fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugs now beginning construction in Cochin are among the most advanced green tugs being built anywhere, with the capability to build them staying in India. She said this reflects Svitzer’s increasing investment in the Indian maritime supply chain and in building advanced green tugs capable of serving India’s Green Tug Transition Programme and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 ambitions, and welcomed the opportunity to deepen the company’s engagement with India and further expand its green tug-building pipeline.

The steel cutting comes against the backdrop of the Government of India’s focus on strengthening the domestic shipbuilding sector. Following measures announced under the Union Budget 2025-26, the Government reviewed the sector and adopted a four-pillar strategy aimed at revitalising shipbuilding in India, approving a comprehensive package of Rs 69,725 crore to strengthen domestic shipbuilding capacity, maritime financing and skilling.

Founded in 1833, Svitzer builds on almost 200 years of experience as a leading global port and terminal infrastructure provider, operating a fleet of 510 vessels and serving approximately 2,000 customers across 157 ports and 46 terminals in 38 countries. Cochin Shipyard Limited, incorporated in 1972 and majority-owned by the Government of India, is a premier shipbuilding and ship repair facility located in Kochi, Kerala.