AYK Energy has been contracted to supply battery systems for four new fully electric Svitzer TRAnsverse tugs in a deal announced on 6 October 2026, MarineLink Maritime News reported.
The battery manufacturer said the order, struck with Kongsberg Maritime, represents further growth for AYK in the workboat sector, the source reported. The package covers battery equipment for the quartet of purpose-built electric tugs specified as Svitzer TRAnsverse vessels.
The transaction sees AYK supplying the electrical energy-storage systems while Kongsberg Maritime acts as the purchaser and integrator partner for the newbuild programme, according to MarineLink. The arrangement follows previous commercial activity by AYK in the workboat market.
The deal underlines the move by towage and workboat operators to adopt fully electric propulsion for harbour craft where operational profiles and shore charging infrastructure permit. Battery systems of the type AYK supplies are central to the shift away from conventional diesel propulsion for short-range, high-duty cycles.
MarineLink’s report did not include technical specifications of the battery systems or a delivery schedule for the vessels, and did not set out financial terms for the agreement. Further commercial or technical detail was not disclosed in the item summarised by the publication.
Industry implications
The contract reinforces the role of specialist battery manufacturers in enabling maritime electrification for small and medium-sized workboats. Battery suppliers are increasingly working with marine systems integrators and naval architects to tailor energy storage, cooling and power management solutions to towage requirements.
For yards and owners, the principal benefits cited in industry commentary for fully electric tugs are lower local emissions in port, reduced noise and the potential for lower operating costs where electricity is competitively priced and charging logistics are well managed.
Next steps and market outlook
Kongsberg Maritime’s involvement as purchaser indicates continued demand for integrated electric propulsion solutions that combine batteries, power management and control systems. The new Svitzer TRAnsverse tugs will extend the fleet of electric harbour vessels once delivered, MarineLink reported.
As more operators move to electrified workboat fleets, suppliers such as AYK are likely to see opportunities to scale production and refine marine battery architectures. The MarineLink item framed this agreement as part of AYK’s ongoing expansion into the workboat segment.
The order for four fully electric Svitzer TRAnsverse tugs adds to a growing list of projects in which battery systems are specified for harbour and service craft. MarineLink’s 6 October 2026 report presented the contract as another step in that transition.
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