International towage operator Svitzer has taken delivery of its first fully electric tug from Sanmar’s Altinova Shipyard in Turkey.
The Sanmar ElectRA 2500SX is based on a design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd (RAL).
Sanmar Corporate Strategy Director İpek Gürün said: “Our partnership with Svitzer dates back almost two decades. With the delivery of the new e-tug, we proudly mark the 30th tugboat we have built for Svitzer. This is more than a number – it is a testament to a long-standing relationship built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to innovation. Today, we are not only celebrating the delivery of a new tugboat; we are also honouring the strength of our collaboration and reaffirming our shared goals for the future of sustainable maritime solutions.”
Past deliveries include the remotely operated Svitzer Hermod in 2016, and the high-tech Svitzer Taurus, delivered in 2024.
The new tug has an overall length of 25.4m, with a 12.86m beam and 5.40m draught. It has a battery capacity of 1,808kWh, Fi-Fi1 fire-fighting capability, and can achieve a bollard pull of 70t. ElectRA Series tugs are the first of a new generation of eco-friendly tugs from Sanmar and are available in a range of sizes (19-28m) and power outputs (40-85t BP). They are the result of Sanmar’s ongoing collaboration with RAL and Corvus Energy to build low and no-emission tugs utilising alternative fuels and innovative technological advances. Sanmar has successfully completed the construction of nine fully electric tugboats to date, with six more currently under construction.
Gürün continued: “This vessel combines advanced electric propulsion, a simplified operational setup, and impressive performance – all while significantly reducing environmental impact. Ease of use and crew safety have been core considerations throughout the design and build process.”
Kasper Karlsen, Group COO, Svitzer, said: “At Svitzer, we are working focused on reducing our carbon emission footprint and thereby supporting the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. We believe that electric tugs are key to achieving our ambitions of net zero. With this new tug, we are taking real steps towards electrifying our fleet.”
Image: Sanmar hands over Svitzer’s first electric tug (source: Sanmar)
