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Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works selected Echandia to supply battery systems for two all-electric tugboats as part of India's Green Tug Transition Program.
The vessels will operate at Visakhapatnam Port Authority and VOC Port Authority in Tuticorin.
This order marks the first deployment in India of the recently launched Echandia Core battery system. Both systems are designed for a 15-year lifespan, which matches the total concession period of the vessels. This eliminates the need for a scheduled mid-life battery replacement and avoids the associated costs, downtime, and operational disruptions during the contract period.
Following Echandia's first Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP) project at Kandla Port, these two new tugboats are scheduled to enter service during the second quarter of 2027. The design of the vessels will be handled by Navnautik Technical Services Pvt Ltd, from Kolkata.
"We chose Echandia for their proven track record in the maritime sector, strong technical capabilities, and commitment to comprehensive support throughout the product lifecycle. For us, long-term reliability, safety, low total cost of ownership, and responsiveness were key factors in our decision, and Echandia demonstrated its strength in each of these areas," said Saurabh Daswani, Managing Director of Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works.
India's Green Tug Transition Program is one of the country's key initiatives to reduce emissions from port operations and accelerate the transition from conventional diesel-powered units to cleaner alternatives. For tugboat operators, the cost-effectiveness of electrification depends not only on the battery capacity at the time of delivery but also on the system's performance throughout the entire operating period.
