Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Svitzer, a leading global towage and marine services provider, today began construction of four advanced battery-electric tugs at a formal steel-cutting ceremony held at Cochin Shipyard. The vessels are among the most advanced green tugs being built anywhere in the world.
The ceremony follows the shipbuilding agreement signed last year between CSL and Svitzer for a series of four next-generation, battery-electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugs. The agreement, signed in December 2025, covers a minimum of four vessels and reflects Svitzer’s increasing investment in the Indian maritime supply chain.
The CSL–Svitzer collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening India’s maritime manufacturing ecosystem, aligning with national priorities under Maritime India Vision 2030, Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and the Government of India’s “Make in India” programme. Built to Svitzer’s specifications, the vessels are highly advanced tugs capable of serving the ambitions of India’s Green Tug Transition Programme, while building domestic capability in electric propulsion and high-specification vessel construction that stays rooted in India.
The ceremony was attended by Shri Jose V. J., Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Senior leadership from Svitzer, including Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer, and Deniz Kirdar True, Managing Director – Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), along with other key stakeholders, were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jose V. J., Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited, 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 is the battery-electric version of Svitzer’s next-generation tug design, developed for demanding harbour operations. Often described as the “Swiss Army Knife” of tugs, the TRAnsverse design is capable of operating in complex and close-quarter environments, across different ship types and sizes and under challenging weather and tidal conditions. The vessels feature battery-electric propulsion and, when charged using green power sources, will enable zero direct emissions for port and terminal towage operations.
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.”
Ms. 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 steel cutting comes against the backdrop of the Government of India’s focus on strengthening the domestic shipbuilding sector. Following the announcement of measures under the Union Budget 2025–26, the Government reviewed the sector and adopted a four-pillar strategy aimed at revitalising shipbuilding in India.
As part of this effort, the Government has approved a comprehensive package of ₹69,725 crore to strengthen domestic shipbuilding capacity, maritime financing and skilling, further reinforcing the sector’s role in India’s maritime growth ambitions.
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