- Denmark has unveiled its first electric tugboat, Svitzer Ingrid, named by H.M. Queen Mary in Copenhagen, marking a milestone in the country’s maritime green transition.
- The tugboat, powered by a 1,808 kWh battery, can complete up to 90% of tasks on electricity alone, cutting annual CO2 emissions by 600–900 tonnes.
- Svitzer plans to expand its battery-powered fleet, with one more tug due in 2026, while stressing the need for wider port charging infrastructure and industry collaboration.
Denmark’s maritime industry celebrated a landmark in its decarbonisation journey with the unveiling of the nation’s first fully electric tugboat, Svitzer Ingrid, in Copenhagen. The vessel was officially named by Her Majesty Queen Mary in a ceremony attended by more than 100 maritime leaders.
Capabilities and impact
Equipped with a 1,808 kWh battery — comparable to 23 modern electric cars — Svitzer Ingrid is designed to handle up to 90% of its operations on electricity alone. This will reduce annual CO2 emissions by an estimated 600 to 900 tonnes compared with existing Øresund tugs. Charging typically takes three and a half hours, although one hour is usually sufficient to prepare for most tasks. With a length of 25.4 metres, beam of 12.7 metres, draft of 5.4 metres, and bollard pull capacity of 70 tonnes, the tug is fully equipped to guide large vessels such as tankers and cruise ships into port.
Svitzer’s strategy
“Svitzer aims to reach climate neutrality by 2040, and electrifying our fleet is essential to achieving that,” said Kasper Friis Nilaus, CEO of Svitzer. “Operating primarily in the Sound with Helsingborg as its home port enables us to complete most jobs entirely on electric power.”
Svitzer currently operates more than 450 tugboats worldwide. The launch of Ingrid represents the company’s first fully battery-operated vessel, with a second electric tugboat scheduled for delivery in 2026 and four more units under consideration. Since 2016, hybrid tugboats have also been in use in Australia.
Challenges and collaboration
While Svitzer Ingrid will be charged using renewable energy at Helsingborg Port, Nilaus underlined that progress depends on the development of robust charging infrastructure across ports. “We still have work ahead, and collaboration between shipping companies, ports, and policymakers will be key to scaling green solutions,” he noted.
Tradition and symbolism
The vessel’s name reflects Svitzer’s tradition of drawing inspiration from Nordic mythology while also paying tribute to Queen Ingrid. This is the second time Queen Mary has named a Svitzer vessel, following Svitzer Marysville in Melbourne in 2011.
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Source: Full Avante News
