Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited has secured the bid to construct and deliver a 15-tonne Bollard Pull (BP) Electric Tug for Kolkata’s Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP). The company has been at the forefront of green vessel technologies, recently delivering a zero-emission fully electric ferry to the West Bengal government.
GRSE is currently engaged in building 13 hybrid ferries for the state government, as well as working on 12 multi-purpose vessels for a German company, with four of them featuring green propulsion systems. The electric tug requested by SMP will be 25 meters long, with a beam of eight meters, and powered by batteries capable of producing a static ahead bollard pull of 15 tonnes.
Designed for harbor assistance and towing operations, the tug will offer two hours of continuous operation endurance and reach a maximum speed of 9 knots. It will be equipped with Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) batteries and its own shore power charging infrastructure, with an estimated cost of around Rs 40 crore.
A senior official highlighted the emphasis on green shipbuilding, noting the government’s plan to replace all tugs in the country with electric ones in the future. The tug’s construction will adhere to International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) standards and incorporate advanced battery-propulsion technology to reduce emissions and promote cleaner port operations.
The project aligns with the maritime sector’s increasing focus on decarbonization and the adoption of green technologies. Since 1960, GRSE has delivered over 800 ships across various classes, including 118 warships to the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and foreign nations, making it the leading warship builder in India.
GRSE is currently involved in the construction of nine warships and 30 commercial platforms, including Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) and a forthcoming contract for five Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs).
