Danish Maritime Group Seeks Vietnamese Partners To Build Electric Tugboats

Danish maritime company Svitzer has initiated efforts to partner with Vietnamese shipyards to construct electric and conventional tugboats, aiming to leverage Vietnam’s shipbuilding capabilities and support the green transition in maritime operations.

Svitzer Surveys Vietnamese Shipyards For Tugboat Construction

Jakob Diemer, Svitzer’s technical director, noted that Vietnam possesses a strong maritime foundation and shipbuilding expertise suitable for tugboat projects. The company is currently surveying shipyards and intends to invite Vietnamese firms to tender for upcoming contracts involving electric tugboats, conventional models, and vessels based on Svitzer’s 29-meter TRAnsVerse design.

Svitzer operates over 500 tugboats worldwide and is developing operations for its electric tugboat, Svitzer Ingrid, to run approximately 90 percent on battery power. Diemer highlighted opportunities for Vietnamese companies beyond ship construction, including supplying electrical systems, controls, and technical services. However, challenges remain, such as the initial investment costs and limited charging infrastructure at ports.

Green Maritime Transition Offers Industrial Collaboration

Svitzer’s business growth partner, Dang Thi Que, emphasised that decarbonisation involves more than reducing emissions; it presents economic benefits by creating exportable expertise and new service models. She underlined the complementary strengths of Denmark’s green maritime technology and Vietnam’s manufacturing capacity and workforce, advocating collaboration in technology transfer, production, and vessel operations to mutual advantage.

Que also pointed to the maritime sector’s diverse career pathways, including technical and non-technical roles, highlighting the potential for Vietnamese professionals to gain experience through practical projects in cooperation with Danish partners.

Vietnam’s Renewable Energy Potential Supports Maritime Decarbonisation

Pernille Dahlgaard, impact director at Denmark’s Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, identified Vietnam’s renewable energy resources, particularly wind and solar power, as strategic assets for supplying green electricity to the maritime industry. She suggested Vietnam could enhance port electrification, shore power capabilities, and alternative fuel infrastructure to meet the sector’s growing demand for low-carbon energy.

The collaboration between Svitzer and Vietnamese partners reflects a broader industrial trend toward integrating green technologies and operational practices within the Asia-Pacific maritime sector. Observers will monitor how Vietnamese shipyards adapt to electric tugboat production requirements and how port infrastructure develops to support electrified maritime services.