EON becomes the first all-electric tug in Southeast Asia, strengthening Singapore’s ambitions as a leading maritime innovation hub
The Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA), an industry collaborative group led by Kuok Maritime Group (KMG), has marked a major milestone in Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation journey with the naming ceremony of EON, the country’s first fully electric harbour tug and the first vessel of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The naming ceremony was held at the newly launched shipyard of PaxOcean at 5 Jalan Samulun. The event was officiated by Guest of Honour Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Mrs Ang (Ms Ashlynn Loo) served as the vessel’s godmother, officially naming the E-Tug in front of CSA partners, industry leaders, and key maritime stakeholders.
Designed and assembled in Singapore, EON showcases the nation’s growing capability to deliver high-value, next-generation electric harbour craft and reinforces Singapore’s position as a leading maritime engineering and innovation hub.
Supported by MPA’s Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund, EON is the first E-Tug designed to operate in Singapore’s port waters, directly supporting Singapore’s decarbonisation roadmap for the harbour craft sector. From 2030, MPA will require all new harbour craft to be fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuels, or be compatible with net-zero fuels.
Mr Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), said, “The EON marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation journey. The operationalisation of an electric harbour tug signals the increasing readiness of electric solutions for energy-intensive operations in Singapore’s port waters. It will also strengthen industry confidence in our transition towards a net-zero harbour craft fleet.”
Purpose-built to support demanding towage operations, EON is equipped with Echandia’s 3MWh lithium-titanate oxide (LTO) battery system designed for fast charging, high-power delivery, and a 20-year operating lifespan. Compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, LTO technology offers superior thermal stability and a near-zero risk of fire or explosion, significantly enhancing operational safety.
The vessel is engineered to deliver instant high torque during towing, with sufficient battery capacity to complete two or more berthing and unberthing operations on a single charge. This enables shipowners and port users to meaningfully reduce their Scope 3 emissions by at least 30% per operation, supporting their internal emissions-reduction targets while maintaining high operational performance.
EON has also been engineered with full future-fuel readiness. Spare capacity in the battery rooms can accommodate additional energy storage systems, and the vessel’s architecture supports hybrid configurations that can incorporate ammonia, hydrogen, or methanol fuel cells as these technologies mature.
“The launch of EON is a testament to KMG’s commitment to leading the maritime industry’s energy transition. This vessel is not just a first for Southeast Asia; she is a clear demonstration that zero-emission harbour operations are viable today,” said Mr Low Soon Teck, Managing Director and CEO of KMG. “This project exemplifies the successful collaboration of CSA, where industry and government partners are working together to build the sustainable maritime ecosystem that Singapore needs for the future.”
Classed by Bureau Veritas and flagged in Singapore, the 29-metre tug has a bollard pull of 50 tonnes and accommodation for up to 10 crew. It is powered by two 1,500kW fixed-pitch azimuth thrusters, combining high manoeuvrability with zero-emission operations.
“From her launch to her naming today, EON represents the successful culmination of a shared vision. The successful construction of Singapore’s first E-Tug is a great pride for the PaxOcean Group. It demonstrates Singapore’s capability for high-value, innovative shipbuilding and sets a new benchmark for sustainable vessel construction in the region,” said Mr Tan Thai Yong, Managing Director and CEO of PaxOcean Group.
The successful delivery of EON reflects the strong collaboration within the Coastal Sustainability Alliance. KMG and PaxOcean would like to thank the active CSA partners for their technical expertise and strong support to the design, construction and sea trials of the E-Tug. The Group also expresses its appreciation to PSA Marine for facilitating the bollard pull test at its berth following the naming ceremony, supporting the vessel’s operational validation.
The introduction of the electric tug Eon. marks a tangible step forward inaccelerating the adoption of practical, scalable decarbonisation solutions across Singapore’s maritime ecosystem. It also reinforces KMG’s broader ambition to work closely with industry partners and regulators to build a future-ready, sustainable port.
