In a major green technology push, Maharashtra’s Fisheries Department will invest ₹1,800 crore to purchase 15 electric tugboats (E-tugs), replacing its aging diesel fleet. Each vessel will cost between ₹120 and 130 crore. The state, which currently operates 12 diesel tugs, aims to induct a total of 30 E-tugs by 2035.
Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane said the move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a leader in the global port sector through sustainable technology. “The ‘Aqua Stentor E-Tug,’ developed using Dutch technology, could be a game-changer in port services. Compared to diesel tugboats, it is faster, more cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly,” Rane noted.
During a recent visit to the Netherlands, Rane inspected the E-tug model, one of which was later brought to Maharashtra for trials. The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), which has reserves of around ₹1,200 crore, will finance the purchase in phases.
The new E-tugs will be leased to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), with daily rentals expected to fetch at least ₹7.5 lakh per vessel. Similar demand exists at 12 other ports across India.
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