The Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA), an industry collaborative effort led by Kuok Maritime Group (KMG), has launched its first fully electric supply boat (e-supply boat) and laid the keel for its first fully electric tug at PaxOcean Batam.
CSA revealed the two milestones on February 5, 2025, pointing out that the electric vessels are amongst the first and largest local electric harbor craft designed for operations in Singapore’s waters.
According to the alliance, the e-supply boat is launched ahead of the nation’s goal for all new harbor craft to be fully electric or compatible with net-zero fuels by 2030.
As explained, the electric supply boat, the PXO-EXL-1, has undergone design optimization and enhancement with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Institutes of Higher Learnings (IHLs)/ Research Institutes (RI) for improved energy efficiency for sustainable and viable coastal operations.
The vessel is dual-classed by Bureau Veritas (BV) and RINA and capable of cruising at 8 knots in zero-emission operations while maintaining operational reliability. Furthermore, the PXO-EXL-1 has been designed to accommodate a payload of 40 tons or 60 pallets.
Coupled with an efficient hull design and operationally efficient marine logistics, the vessel can achieve 60% energy savings over a conventional lighter making multiple trips, providing significant costs and carbon emissions reduction for the industry, CSA claimed.
The CSA intends to bring together international shipping agencies to explore offtaking arrangements and trial the electric supply boat in the second half of 2025.
On the same day the e-supply boat was launched from shipyard to water, the keel was officially laid for CSA’s first fully electric tug. Supported under the MPA Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund, the 50T bollard pull PXO-ACE-1 electric tug is said to incorporate advanced technologies for propulsion, energy storage, and battery management systems.
The product development is supported by digital twin models with research collaborators and the vessel is future fuel-ready for zero-carbon fuels.
The construction of the electric tug is slated to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
Tan Thai Yong , Managing Director and CEO of PaxOcean Group and Chairperson of CSA, said: “The launch of the PXO-EXL-1 e-supply boat is a testament to our commitment to decarbonising Singapore’s coastal logistics ecosystem. This vessel demonstrates what CSA can achieve when industry players, researchers, and regulators come together to innovate and collaborate. Together with the keel lay of the PXO-ACE-1 electric tug, these milestones bring us closer to achieving a green and operationally efficient maritime sector.”
Kenneth Lim , Assistant Chief Executive (Industry & Transformation), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), added: “Today, we witness the fruits of industry and researchers’ partnerships and collaboration in driving maritime decarbonisation, and advancing energy-efficient solutions for Maritime Singapore. MPA is glad to celebrate the launch of Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA)’s first fully electric supply boat and the keel lay of the electric tug, and is committed to working with industry partners like CSA to achieve Singapore’s sustainability and decarbonisation goals.”