Top News

• India eyes battery-electric tugs: India's Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP), part of the Panch Karma Sankalp, kicks off with an investment of $120 million (INR 1,000 crores) aimed at replacing diesel-powered tugs with zero-emission alternatives. Phase 1 begins on October 1, 2024, involving four major ports—Jawaharlal Nehru, Deendayal, Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar—each acquiring two green tugs. The initiative will fully transition all port tugs to green alternatives by 2040, creating jobs in Indian shipyards and aligning with India's ambitious Maritime India Vision 2030 goals.

• NEOM and Candela Launch World’s First Electric Hydrofoil Ship Network: NEOM has ordered eight Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil ships, marking the largest single order in Candela’s history. The P-12 uses 80% less energy than conventional ships, reaching speeds of 25 knots and offering zero-emission water transport. With 97.5% lower CO2 emissions than diesel ships, the P-12 promises sustainable, fast, and comfortable water commuting. The first eight ships are expected to arrive in 2025 and early 2026, revolutionizing NEOM’s water transport system.

• Scandlines’ All-Electric Ferry Nears Completion: The construction of Scandlines' zero-emissions ferry, E/V Futura, is in its final phase at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey. The 147-meter ferry, which was launched in November 2023, recently underwent painting and thruster fitting in a floating dock. Key measurements for automatic mooring systems and charging towers in Rødby, Denmark, and Puttgarden, Germany, were also completed. The ferry's large battery system will enable 12-minute charging in ports by September 2025. Once sea trials are complete, the ferry will be deployed on the Puttgarden-Rødby route later this year.

• Tristar goes hybrid in UAE: Tristar is set to launch the region's first hybrid bunker barge in early 2025, aiming to transform coastal bunkering operations in the UAE. The company plans to convert at least 10% of its coastal fleet to hybrid vessels, reducing emissions by up to 50% in Fujairah. This aligns with their broader environmental goals, which include adopting hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles (EVs), and biofuels across their operations.

The opinion

• China's Electric Shipping Revolution: A New Era on the Horizon

  China is driving forward the electrification of its shipping industry, recently launching the world’s largest all-electric container ship, the Lv Shui 01, fitted with 50 megawatt-hours of swappable batteries. With shipping contributing 6% of China’s emissions, battery-powered vessels could be a game-changer, but the high costs (with batteries priced at $520,000 each) and limited recharging infrastructure pose challenges. As global competition heats up with alternatives like hydrogen and methanol, China's dominance in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production might give it the edge.