Recently, China’s first hydrogen-electric hybrid tugboat, the “Hydrogen-Electric Tug No.1,” jointly developed with CATL’s participation, was put into service at Qingdao Port in Shandong Province. Equipped with CATL’s innovative marine solutions, the vessel is the most powerful port tugboat in China with the largest lithium battery capacity, achieving true zero carbon emissions. As a critical enabler of efficient port operations, the successful delivery of the “Hydrogen-Electric Tug No.1” will significantly reduce carbon emissions in port operations and set a replicable industry benchmark for the green transformation of port equipment.
Amid the global trend toward low-carbon port transformation, energy-efficient and low-emission electric tugboats have become a key breakthrough for port electrification. Known as “little giants of the sea,” tugboats can maneuver massive cargo ships, oil tankers, and container vessels, performing essential tasks such as berthing, unberthing, and course adjustments during port operations.
CATL provided the “Hydrogen-Electric Tug No.1” with a marine power solution that combines high performance and safety. With a lithium battery capacity of 7,838.88 kWh, the highest energy density in China at /kg, and a maximum output power of 5,200 kW, the tugboat can operate for over 12 hours at a speed of 9 knots, delivering a maximum towing force of 82 tons for prolonged, efficient operations in complex waters. Leveraging CATL’s NP (no thermal propagation) technology, self-developed BMS system, and millisecond-level precision control via liquid cooling thermal management, the solution also mitigates thermal runaway risks in battery cells, ensuring safe and stable performance under demanding conditions.
Additionally, the “Hydrogen-Electric Tug No.1” is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 1,500 tons, making it a pivotal asset in Qingdao Port’s journey toward becoming a zero-carbon port.
As a global leader in new energy innovation, CATL is progressively developing zero-carbon marine solutions for diverse scenarios. From China’s first oil-electric hybrid luxury catamaran, the “Greater Bay Area No.1,” to the world’s largest pure-electric tourist vessel by battery capacity, the “Yangtze River Three Gorges No.1,” and now the nation’s first hydrogen-electric tugboat, the “Hydrogen-Electric Tug No.1″—CATL-powered flagship projects have already made significant strides across sectors such as tourist ships, port tugboats, and inland and coastal cargo vessels.
Moving forward, CATL will continue to innovate marine electrification solutions, collaborating with global partners to accelerate the zero-carbon transition in the port and shipping industry and drive sustainable growth in maritime economies.
