Port of Melbourne is electrifying towage operations
While shore power addresses emissions from vessels at berth, towage operations remain one of the most energy‑intensive and emissions‑critical activities within ports. Tugboats operate continuously, deliver high‑power manoeuvres, and are essential to port safety and efficiency.
Electrifying towage therefore represents one of the highest‑impact levers for reducing port emissions while maintaining operational performance.
Danish Royal State Visit to Australia
On 17th March 2026, a milestone for maritime electrification was reached at the Port of Melbourne, where the port, Svitzer, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), and Plexar Energy formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Danish Royal State Visit to Australia, attended by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Denmark.
The MoU establishes a collaborative framework to explore Australia’s first fully electric towage operations at its largest container port, including:
- Deployment of two fully electric TRAnsverse 2600e tugboats operated by Svitzer
- Development of high‑capacity charging infrastructure
- Assessment of a dedicated renewable energy microgrid to supply reliable, low‑emissions power for tug operations
Towage is mission‑critical infrastructure, and electrification must not compromise safety, reliability, or performance. The Port of Melbourne MoU recognises that successful tug electrification depends on integrating vessels, energy infrastructure, and port operations as a single system, rather than treating electrification as a standalone asset swap.
Through this partnership:
- Svitzer brings proven operational expertise and next‑generation electric tug technology
- CIP contributes experience in large‑scale energy and infrastructure investment
- Plexar Energy provides decentralised energy systems, renewable microgrids, and intelligent optimisation to enable high‑power maritime electrification in a constrained port environment
A Plexar microgrid enables reliable electric towage operation
Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest container and general cargo port. It handles over one-third of the nation’s container trade, managing roughly 3.4 million TEU.
In FY25, it handled approximately $154 billion worth of trade
Electrifying tugboats requires access to reliable, high‑capacity power that can support fast charging cycles without disrupting port operations or overloading the local grid. A dedicated renewable energy microgrid offers a practical solution by supplying electricity that is tailored to the operational profile of electric towage:
- Provide predictable and resilient power supply for tugboat charging, even in a constrained grid environment
- Reduce exposure to grid congestion and electricity price volatility
- Enable higher utilisation of electric tugboats without compromising safety or availability
- Support the port’s broader decarbonisation and resilience objectives
Within the MoU framework, the microgrid is assessed alongside charging infrastructure and vessel operations to ensure that energy systems, tug performance, and port logistics are designed as one integrated system, rather than as standalone assets. This systems‑based approach is critical for scaling electric towage in a large, high‑traffic port like Melbourne and for ensuring that electrification delivers both emissions reduction and operational reliability