AYK Energy secures deal with Turkish yard for ‘world’s first’ battery-methanol tug

Andorra-based marine battery manufacturer AYK Energyis set to manufacture and supply a battery system that would power the world’s ‘first-ever’ battery-electric methanol tug, currently under construction at Türkiye’s Uzmar shipyard.

As disclosed, AYK Energy will outfit the tugboat—which will join Danish towage and marine services provider Svitzer’s fleet once completed—with a 6MWh battery system. The batteries will be made at AYK’s automated manufacturing plant in Zhuhai, China, which opened its doors in 2023.

Once installed, the newbuild’s dual-fuel methanol