First electric tug advancing Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation

BATAM, INDONESIA/SINGAPORE, 7 July 2025 – Kuok Maritime Group (KMG), through the Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA) – an industry collaborative effort it leads –today marked an important milestone in Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation journey with the successful launch of the nation’s first fully electric tug (E-Tug).

Designed and to be assembled in Singapore, the zero-emission E-Tug is set to begin operations in local waters in the first quarter of 2026. This marks a major step forward in the adoption of electric vessels, alongside progress in public charging infrastructure, sea-to-shore connectivity, and workforce capability-building to operate new marine assets.

This launch is a critical enabler of the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint developed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). It also supports the Singapore Government’s directive for all new harbour craft to be fully electric or compatible with net-zero fuels by 2030, paving the way for a sustainable coastal logistics network.

Mr Tan Thai Yong, Managing Director and CEO, PaxOcean Group, said: “This launch is a testament to CSA’s robust industry collaboration and partnership with MPA. Together, we are laying the groundwork for maritime innovation, low-carbon solutions, and a refresh of how port activities can become sustainable. The CSA’s E-Tug demonstrates how decarbonisation can deliver both environmental impact and real operational value to the maritime industry.”

With a 50-ton bollard pull and powered by a 3 MWh lithium-titanium-oxide (LTO) battery system, the E-Tug is engineered for demanding towage operations while eliminating emissions at the point of use. It is also future-fuel ready, with design provisions to support green methanol and ammonia integration when commercially viable. Built with digital innovation at its core, the vessel features a high-fidelity digital twin for real-time data analytics, improving operational efficiency and reducing dead mileage.

The launch underscores the CSA’s commitment to promoting electric harbour craft as Singapore’s infrastructure, workforce, and supply chains evolve to support cleaner, more resilient maritime operations. As a collaborative platform, CSA actively brings together coastal stakeholders and ecosystem partners to drive energy-efficient logistics and sustainable engineering innovations – laying the foundation for a smarter, greener maritime future.

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Kuok Maritime Group

Kuok Maritime Group (KMG) includes the PaxOcean Group (PaxOcean), Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL), PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH), Pacific Workboats Pte Ltd (PWPL), McPEC Marine & Offshore Engineering Pte Ltd (McPEC) and KSL Maritime Ventures (KMV).  KMG offers an integrated suite of maritime solutions to businesses globally. It serves the maritime value chain from provision of offshore maritime and subsea support services, shipping and transportation, newbuilding, harbour and terminal towage services as well as turnkey solutions for marine, offshore, energy, market in engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) to supporting start-ups offering technological and innovative solutions to the industry. The group also leads the Coastal Sustainability Alliance in Singapore, working with like-minded industry partners to build a sustainable next-generation maritime ecosystem. Visit Kuok Maritime Group at https://kuokgroup.com.sg/businesses/#maritime.

PaxOcean Group

PaxOcean Group is a member of the Kuok Maritime Group (KMG) which is part of Kuok Group Singapore. PaxOcean owns and operates five shipyards located in Singapore, China and Indonesia. First established in 2007 in Singapore, PaxOcean offers a wide range of services covering integrated solutions, newbuilding, module fabrication, green recycling, repairs and conversion of conventional and renewable energy assets.

Visit PaxOcean at www.paxocean.com.

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