Marine battery specialist Corvus Energy has signed an agreement to supply a lithium-ion battery system for an electric tugboat in Japan.
The electric tugboat will be equipped with the Norwegian firm’s Orca NMC cells, which will provide 2,712kWh of installed capacity.
Electric propulsion will be used during idling and low-power operations, with diesel engines engaged only when maximum thrust is required.
The system is scheduled for delivery in June next year.
The deal further strengthens Corvus Energy’s presence in Japan’s expanding zero-emission vessel market. It has already supplied systems for more than 10 vessels operating in Japan. It adds to Corvus Energy’s global projects for hybrid and fully electric vessels which total 1.3GWh of installed capacity.
Operation of the new vessel is expected to start by the end of 2026 under Naikai Tug Boat Service, a member of the NYK Group.
The electric tugboat will feature Japan’s first domestically produced large-capacity electric motor drive system, integrated with a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) for enhanced precision manoeuvring.
The project forms part of Japan’s wider maritime decarbonisation strategy and is being developed under NYK’s ‘Co-Creating the Future’ programme.
The initiative supports the country’s broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its port infrastructure.
Satohiko Kodama, manager of NYK’s Project Engineering Team, said, “By combining domestic electric propulsion systems with Corvus Energy’s proven storage technology, we are taking an important step towards realising zero-emission ports.”
