Denmark’s first fully electric tugboat, Svitzer Ingrid, was officially named by Her Majesty Queen Mary at a ceremony in Copenhagen.

With a battery capacity equivalent to 23 electric cars, the vessel is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 600–900 tonnes annually.

Around 90 per cent of operations will be performed on battery power. Svitzer Ingrid will operate in the Sound, with Helsingborg as its home port.

Svitzer, which operates over 450 tugs globally, has previously deployed four hybrid tugs in Australia and plans to expand its battery-powered fleet. A second electric tug is scheduled for delivery in 2026, and four more are under consideration.

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CEO of Svitzer, Kasper Friis Nilaus, noted that fleet electrification depends on the availability of port charging infrastructure.

He said: “We would like to make a larger share of our fleet battery-powered, but this depends on ports having the necessary charging infrastructure. Shipping companies cannot achieve this on their own.”

Svitzer Ingrid will be charged using renewable energy at the Port of Helsingborg.

In July, the Port of Newcastle’s maritime capabilities were significantly enhanced with the arrival of the TRAnsverse tug Svitzer Barrington, which joined Svitzer Australia’s fleet at the port.