The green transition in Denmark’s maritime sector took an important step forward today as Denmark’s – and Svitzer’s – first electric tugboat was named by Her Majesty Queen Mary at a ceremony in Copenhagen.

The new tugboat will carry the name Svitzer Ingrid, as announced by Her Majesty during the naming ceremony, which was attended by more than 100 executives from the Danish maritime industry. Svitzer Ingrid has a battery capacity equivalent to that of 23 modern electric cars and can perform most tasks using electricity, thereby reducing annual CO₂ emissions by 600 to 900 tonnes.

“At Svitzer, we have an ambition to become climate neutral by 2040, so today marks an important milestone for us. The electrification of our vessels is a key part of achieving this target. Svitzer Ingrid will operate in the Sound with Helsingborg as its home port, and around 90% of all tasks can be completed using electricity,” said Kasper Friis Nilaus, CEO of Svitzer.

OVER 450 TUGBOATS
Svitzer operates a fleet of over 450 tugboats - assisting large tankers, container ships, and cruise vessels safely in and out of ports. Ingrid is Svitzer’s first fully battery-powered tugboat. A second electric tugboat has been ordered for delivery in 2026, and Svitzer is also in the market for additional four electric tugboats. Since 2016, Svitzer has operated four hybrid tugs in Australia.

“We would like to make a larger share of our fleet battery-powered, but this depends on ports having the necessary charging infrastructure. We are not there yet, although we see positive progress,” added Kasper Friis Nilaus.

“Ultimately, ports will need charging infrastructure similar to that for cars. Shipping companies cannot achieve this on their own. We must work together across our industry, with policymakers and local communities, to develop viable green solutions,” he said.

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

Facts about Svitzer Ingrid:

• Hybrid vessel with a 1,808 kWh battery, equal to 23 modern electric cars
• Also fitted with a conventional diesel engine• Reduces CO₂ emissions by 600–900 tonnes per year compared to existing Øresund tugs
•  Full charge takes about 3.5 hours; in practice, around one hour of charging is sufficient for operations
• 90% of tasks can be completed on battery power
• Length: 25.4 metres, Width: 12.7 metres, Draft: 5.4 metres
• Bollard pull (BP): 70 tonnes

Svitzer vessels in Scandinavia are named after figures from Nordic mythology, and the Svitzer Ingrid is no exception. The name also carries a royal reference to Queen Ingrid. This is the second time that H.M. Queen Mary has named a Svitzer vessel, having previously named Svitzer Marysville in Melbourne, Australia in 2011.

About Svitzer

• Svitzer is a leading global towage and marine services provider. The core business is to assist large seaborne vessels in manoeuvering in and out of ports and terminals to berth and unberth.
• With more than 450 vessels, Svitzer’s services play a crucial role in critical port infrastructure.
• Svitzer was founded in 1833 and serves approximately 2,000 customers in more than 140 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries.