Electric Tugboat Competes with Diesel in Dutch Inland Waterways

Rotterdam-based maritime service provider Kotug developed the E-pusher, a fully electric tugboat that rivals diesel-powered vessels in cost for guiding ships in ports and rivers. The company redesigned traditional tugboat construction, opting for a modular frame of steel and recyclable polyethylene, reducing weight and draft.

This lighter design is particularly beneficial given increasing river drought. Kotug independently developed the E-pusher without subsidies, and it currently operates for Cargill in Amsterdam, with sales to customers in Rotterdam and Lithuania.

The tugboat uses interchangeable energy containers, batteries, hydrogen, or methanol, and delivers 190 tons of annual CO2 reduction. Kotug is also developing software to enable the E-pusher to function as a floating battery, potentially returning power to the grid during peak demand. They emphasize the importance of reliable supply chain partners and collaboration for scaling sustainable projects.