Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract from Cochin Shipyard Limited in India to supply the electrical, automation and propulsion package for four full-electric TRAnsverse tugs being built for Svitzer. The deal covers four vessels, with options for four additional units, placing Kongsberg in the core power and propulsion scope of Svitzer's battery-electric harbour tug programme.
Each tug will be built around a 4.8 MWh battery pack and equipped for zero-emission harbour and terminal towage operations. Kongsberg's delivery covers DC and AC switchboards, permanent-magnet propulsion motors, shore charging equipment, the K-Chief automation system and the K-Chief power management system. The package also includes two US L Drive azimuth thrusters per vessel, fitted with 2.8-metre nozzles and driven by 2,000 kW permanent-magnet motors, controlled through the AquaPilot system.
Kongsberg will additionally supply a hydraulic escort winch, two capstans and two chain stoppers for each tug. Mark Callaway, senior sales manager for tugs at Kongsberg Maritime, said the order showed that emission-free operations were no longer in contradiction with vessel economics.
Svitzer and Cochin Shipyard signed the underlying shipbuilding agreement in December 2025. The contract covers at least four 26-metre TRAnsverse 2600E battery-electric tugs, with options for up to four additional units, to be built at Cochin Shipyard's facilities in India for Svitzer's fleet renewal and growth plans. The Cochin-built tugs are 70-tonne bollard pull vessels expected to be deployed in Europe, the Americas and Australia.
Kongsberg Maritime is a Norwegian maritime technology supplier providing propulsion, automation, power, bridge, navigation and control systems for commercial and specialised vessels. Svitzer A/S, founded in Denmark in 1833, provides harbour and terminal towage services worldwide. Cochin Shipyard is an Indian public sector shipbuilding and shiprepair company under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Key Takeaways:
1. Kongsberg Maritime will supply the full electrical, automation and propulsion package for four Svitzer TRAnsverse tugs being built at Cochin Shipyard.
2. The contract covers four vessels, with options for four more.
3. Each tug will be built around a 4.8 MWh battery pack and equipped for zero-emission harbour towage.
4. The package includes two US L Drive azimuth thrusters, K-Chief automation and power management, and shore charging equipment.
5. The 26-metre, 70-tonne bollard pull tugs from Cochin will be deployed in Europe, the Americas and Australia.
