GRSE emerges lowest bidder for electric tug for Kolkata port
Kolkata, June 25
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited has emerged the lowest bidder for the construction and delivery of a 15-tonne Bollard Pull Electric Tug for Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, officials said on Thursday.
The GRSE has made advances in the field of green vessel technologies, having delivered a zero-emission fully electric ferry to the West Bengal government.
It is now building 13 hybrid ferries for the West Bengal government.
The shipyard is also working on 12 multi-purpose vessels for a German company, four of which will have green propulsion systems.
The tug that SMP at Kolkata wants will be 25 metres in length and have a beam of eight metres.
Powered by batteries, it will be capable of generating a static ahead bollard pull of 15 tonnes.
Designed for harbour assistance and towing operations, the tug will have an endurance of two hours of continuous operation and a maximum speed of 9 knots.
The tug will be powered by Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) batteries and have its own shore power charging infrastructure. It will cost around Rs 40 crore.
"The project cost may seem small for a shipyard that builds warships worth several thousands of crores each, but the focus here is on green shipbuilding. The government has announced all tugs in the country will get replaced by electric ones in the years to come," a senior official said.
The tug will have to be built to International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) classification standards and incorporate advanced battery-propulsion technology, significantly reducing emissions and contributing to cleaner port operations.
The project is in line with the growing emphasis on decarbonisation and adoption of green technologies across the maritime sector.
GRSE has built more than 800 ships of various classes since 1960, when it became a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU). These include 118 warships built and delivered to the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and friendly foreign nations.
This is the highest number of warships delivered by any shipyard in India.
The last three warships commissioned into the Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 21 -- INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray -- were built by this shipyard.
At the moment, GRSE is working on nine warships and 30 commercial platforms.
The warships include four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs).
It is also in the advanced stages of concluding a prestigious contract for the construction of five Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs).
— IANS
Reader Comments
Excellent news! GRSE is proving that Indian shipbuilding is world-class. Green tugs will reduce pollution in our rivers and ports. Hope this is replicated across other ports soon. 🇮🇳🚢
Impressive! But I hope the shore charging infrastructure is robust. For a port like Kolkata, where power cuts happen sometimes, we need backup plans. Otherwise, a great step forward.
This is fantastic initiative for green maritime technology. LTO batteries are a smart choice for rapid charging and safety. Really happy to see Indian ports moving towards sustainability. Great job GRSE!
Good to see Kolkata port finally getting modernized. But only 2 hours endurance? That seems very limited for a tug. Hope they have designed it well for actual operational needs. 🤔
As someone from the shipping industry, this is a very promising development. Battery-powered tugs are the future, and India leading the way in our own ports is commendable. The GRSE track record with warships gives confidence in quality.
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