Singapore-based SeaTech Solutions has achieved a significant milestone in India’s green maritime transition by securing an Approval in Principle (AiP) from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) for its E-VOLT battery-electric tugboat design.
The E-VOLT Tug Design and Approval
SeaTech received the AiP for its ready-to-adopt electric tug design on October 28, 2025, during a maritime event in India. The E-VOLT design is specifically engineered to meet the mandates of India’s sustainability initiatives, offering a cleaner and more efficient solution for government and private port operations.
- Design Features: The E-VOLT tug integrates an advanced Battery Storage System (BESS) and features an ergonomic layout designed for high efficiency, combining sustainability, performance, and safety.
- Collaboration History: This AiP follows a collaboration agreement established in October 2024, when SeaTech and IRS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and secure classification approval for green tugs and harbor crafts using environmentally friendly technologies. The MoU focused on both the Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP) and the Harit Nauka – Green Transition Guidelines for inland vessels.
Alignment with India’s Green Transition Goals
The E-VOLT design is a direct contributor to two of India’s major maritime sustainability ambitions:
- Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP): This program aims to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide CO2 emissions and environmental impact by transitioning the harbor tug fleet. Its goal is to achieve 50% zero-emission tug operations by 2030 and fully green operations by 2047. The transition is part of the broader Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- Global Hub for Green Shipbuilding: In November 2023, SeaTech, alongside the Indian defense shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), the Shift Energy Group, and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), partnered to develop the E-VOLT 50 electric tugboats. This agreement supports India’s overarching strategy of becoming the ‘Global Hub for Green Shipbuilding’ by 2030.
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Source: Offshore Energy
