Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works has selected Echandia to supply battery systems for two fully electric tugs under India’s Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP). The vessels will operate at Visakhapatnam Port Authority and VO Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tuticorin.
The order marks the first Indian deployment of Echandia’s recently launched Echandia Core battery system. The two battery systems are designed for a 15-year service life, matching the full concession period of the vessels, removing the need for a planned mid-life battery replacement and avoiding the associated cost, downtime and operational disruption during the contract period.
Echandia has an existing track record in India, where its LTO-based battery systems have powered 23 Kochi Water Metro ferries since 2023. The two new tugs follow Echandia’s first GTTP project at Kandla Port and are scheduled to enter operation in the second quarter of 2027.
Saurabh Daswani, managing director at Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works, said, “We selected Echandia based on their proven marine references, strong technical capabilities and commitment to lifecycle support. For us, long-term reliability, safety, low total cost of ownership and response were key decision factors, and Echandia demonstrated strength in each of these areas.”
To support customers over the long term, Echandia has expanded its local presence in India through partnerships that secure service access for the full life of each vessel.
India’s Green Tug Transition Program is one of the country’s key initiatives to reduce emissions from port operations and accelerate the transition from conventional diesel-powered harbor tugs to cleaner alternatives.
Rakshith Sachitanand, senior strategist at Echandia, said, “India is a long-term market for Echandia, and we have invested in local presence to support customers across the full life of their vessels. For tug operators, operational availability is the deciding factor. Our LTO chemistry and battery management system always gives crews an accurate state of charge and maximum bollard pull, so there are no surprises in operation. Once operators experience that consistency, confidence in electric tugs follows.”
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