K Line unit seals deal for electric tugboat construction

The boat will have a hybrid system for incorporating new technologies.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K Line) subsidiary Seagate Corporation Co., Ltd, has concluded an agreement with Kanagawa Dockyard Co., Ltd. (Kanagawa Dockyard) on the construction of an electric tugboat powered by a large-capacity lithium-ion battery.

“The anticipated specifications have recently been achieved due to the downsizing of the tugboat’s equipment and the improvement of maintenance performance resulting from the introduction of a newly developed domestic technology, leading to the construction agreement with Kanagawa Dockyard,” K Line said in a statement.

The tugboat will have a hybrid electric vehicle system incorporating many new technologies which have not previously been used in domestic tugboats into its drive motors, swing devices, current control systems and other components.

It is also equipped with a power generator to be used when the battery does not have enough remaining electricity during the operation of the electric propulsion system which is primarily powered by the lithium-ion battery. This significantly reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions compared to tugboats equipped with conventional main engines fueled by heavy oil.

The tugboat is scheduled for completion in the latter half of 2027 and will be deployed at the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu in Yamaguchi prefecture.