Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has commenced construction of four next-generation battery-electric harbour tugs for global towage and marine services company Svitzer, marking a significant development in India’s growing green shipbuilding capabilities.
The construction formally began with a steel-cutting ceremony at Cochin Shipyard, following the shipbuilding agreement signed between CSL and Svitzer in December 2025. The contract covers four TRAnsverse 2600e tugs and represents Svitzer’s expanding engagement with India’s maritime manufacturing and shipbuilding ecosystem.
The vessels will be built to Svitzer’s specifications and are designed specifically for demanding harbour and terminal towage operations. As battery-electric vessels, the tugs are intended to support lower-emission port operations, with the potential for zero direct emissions when powered using renewable electricity.
The project also aligns with India’s broader push towards cleaner maritime operations and greater domestic shipbuilding capability. The development supports the objectives of the Green Tug Transition Programme as well as the long-term ambitions outlined under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. It also contributes to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme by bringing advanced electric propulsion and specialised vessel-building capabilities into domestic production.
Speaking at the steel-cutting ceremony, Jose V. J., Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, said, “It is a proud moment for CSL to partner with Svitzer for the construction of four fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e harbour tugs, and we look forward to strengthening this association further through our shipbuilding capabilities and expertise. CSL will thus be playing a crucial role in advancing the sector’s decarbonisation goals.”
The TRAnsverse 2600e represents the battery-electric variant of Svitzer’s latest tug platform. The design is intended to provide manoeuvrability and operational flexibility in confined harbour environments and across a wide range of vessel-handling requirements. Svitzer describes the TRAnsverse platform as a versatile solution for complex towage operations, with the design already deployed commercially in different markets.
Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer, Svitzer, who delivered a keynote address at the ceremony, said, “The TRAnsverse is designed to remove constraints in our customers’ operations. It delivers faster and more predictable vessel movements, which protects berth productivity and turnaround times, and it allows a port to get more from the berths, channels and pilots it already has without a proportional increase in fleet size or new infrastructure. This is proven technology, with over 3,000 commercial towage jobs been completed with the class, and Svitzer has 18 TRAnsverse vessels under construction worldwide.”
The selection of CSL follows Svitzer’s evaluation of shipbuilding facilities globally and highlights the growing role of Indian yards in the construction of technologically advanced and environmentally focused vessels. The project is expected to further deepen Svitzer’s engagement with India while strengthening CSL’s capabilities in electric vessel construction.
Deniz Kirdar True, Managing Director – Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), Svitzer, said, “We evaluated shipyards across the world before selecting CSL. Four fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugs now begin construction here in Cochin — among the most advanced green tugs being built anywhere — and the capability to build them stays in India. 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. We welcome the opportunity to deepen our engagement with India and further expand our green tug-building pipeline.”
The project comes as the Indian Government steps up efforts to strengthen the country’s domestic shipbuilding industry. Measures announced following the Union Budget 2025–26 have placed greater emphasis on expanding shipbuilding capacity, improving maritime financing and developing skilled manpower.
As part of the wider sectoral push, the Government has approved a comprehensive package of Rs 69,725 crore aimed at supporting shipbuilding capacity, maritime financing and skill development. The initiative is expected to provide further impetus to India’s ambition of establishing a stronger and more competitive maritime manufacturing ecosystem.
The CSL-Svitzer project therefore represents more than the construction of four electric tugs, combining domestic shipbuilding expertise with advanced electric propulsion technology and supporting India’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable port operations.