Launch of a pure battery-powered EV harbour tugboat development project

Tokyo Kisen and Marindows have officially launched Japan’s first pure battery -powered EV harbour tugboat development project.



This EV harbour tugboat which will be operated in the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki is aiming to contribute to ‘zero GHG emissions from ports’ in accordance with the Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) policy.



In January 2023, Tokyo Kisen put into service ‘TAIGA’ which was the Japan’s first series-hybrid electric-powered tugboat equipped with a large-capacity 2,486 kWh battery. Building on two-and-a-half years of operating experience with electric-powered tugs, this project advances to the next stage—enabling truly zero-emission (zero CO₂) operations—by developing and constructing a pure battery-powered EV tugboat. This could be possible by the combination of a large-capacity onboard Li-ion battery system (6.66 MWh) and MW-class fast chargers.

The planned schedule includes:


2025: Detailed feasibility study and concept design.
(Final construction decision will be made based on the results of the detailed FS including the concept design.)


2026: Basic design (vessel, key equipment/systems, fast chargers).


2027: Detailed design (vessel, key equipment/systems, fast chargers).


2028: Construction starts of the vessel and fast-charging pier works.


2030: Commercial service starts at the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki.