Cochin Shipyard to build 4 fully electric TRAnsverse tugs for Danish giant Svitzer: All you need to know

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Friday announced a deal with Danish maritime services giant, Svitzer, for the construction of four fully electric TRAnsverse tugs.

This formalises the Letter of Intent (LoI) the two companies had signed at the India Maritime Week 2025 (IMW 2025) on October 31, which saw over 12 lakh crore worth of investments into India's maritime sector.

According to the terms of the deal, the Kerala-based shipbuilder will build four 26-metre fully electric TRAnsverse 2600E tugs as per Svitzer's specifications.

The vessels are said to have 70-tonne bollard pull capacity, and will be based on the Svitzer Taurus, a diesel-powered TRAnsverse tug. A bollard is a short, thick post on which ropes are secured—one of the main points used by the tug to pull vessels.

"Known for exceptional manoeuvrability and efficiency, TRAnsverse tugs provide precise control in confined waters, improving safety and operational performance while reducing energy use and emissions," Svitzer had said in October, after the LoI signing.

The deal, valued as a 'Significant Order' (250-500 crore) under its internal order classification system, is aimed at modernising Svitzer's global fleet, and to boost its operations worldwide, a CNBC TV18 report said.

Originally established as a salvage company, the Danish maritime firm spent more than four decades as a subsidiary of Maersk before becoming an independent towage and marine services giant, which is also listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.

Delivery of the finished vessels is expected from late 2027 onwards, with the door left open for the construction of up to four more tugs.

The deal reconciles Svitzer's experience in global port and terminal infrastructure services with CSL's prowess in shipbuilding. 

Calling it a "decisive step on our electrification journey", Svitzer CEO Kasper Nilaus had said that the deal was "strongly aligned" with the Government of India’s maritime ambitions under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.