AYK Energy Secures Deal for Four Svitzer Electric Tugs | Mariner News
AYK Energy has secured a deal with Kongsberg Maritime to supply battery systems for four new fully electric tugs for Svitzer, with an option for four additional vessels. This firm order significantly expands AYK’s involvement in Svitzer’s fleet electrification strategy, building on five prior hybrid-electric tug projects.
Each tug, under construction at Cochin Shipyard in India, will feature an ABS-certified 4,838 kWh battery system. AYK’s batteries will integrate seamlessly with Kongsberg Maritime’s comprehensive electrical and automation systems, encompassing propulsion motors, switchboards, control systems, and shore charging infrastructure.
The selection of AYK’s lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery technology highlights a strategic focus on enhanced safety and higher energy density and power output over traditional NMC chemistries. This choice reflects a growing industry confidence in LFP’s capabilities for demanding, continuous operations typical of harbor tugs.
This development underscores a maturing market for fully electric propulsion in port services, moving beyond hybrid solutions to embrace larger, dedicated battery installations. AYK’s recent supply of a 6MWh AriesA battery system for the powerful electric escort tug Svitzer Balder further illustrates the trend towards increasingly substantial battery capacities to meet operational demands.
Svitzer’s consistent investment in electric propulsion and its deepening partnership with AYK and Kongsberg Maritime signals a broader commitment to operational electrification, which is likely to influence competitive strategies and technology adoption across the global tug and harbor services sector.
