AYK Energy Expands its Reach in the Workboat Sector
By AYK
AYK Energy, a rapidly growing battery manufacturer, has announced a significant expansion in the workboat industry, securing a new contract with Kongsberg Maritime to provide battery systems for four fully electric Svitzer TRAnsverse tugs.
This latest deal builds on AYK’s previous collaborations on five hybrid electric tug projects with Svitzer. The new vessels are being constructed at Cochin Shipyard in India, each outfitted with an ABS-certified 4,838kWh OrionAN+ battery system, with the potential to add four more vessels in the future.
AYK’s batteries will be integrated into Kongsberg Maritime’s comprehensive system, which encompasses the entire electrical and automation architecture of the tugs, including DC and AC switchboards, permanent magnet propulsion motors, K-Chief control systems, and shore charging solutions.
Chris Kruger, the founder of AYK, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This is such an exciting moment for AYK. I’ve been involved with this technology since 2012 with Svitzer’s four diesel-electric hybrid tugs in Australia. We’re proud to collaborate with the visionary teams at Kongsberg Maritime and Svitzer on these advanced green-powered tugs.”
Kruger emphasized the importance of industry insight in AYK’s designs, stating, “Vessel operators have made it clear they desire more energy density and higher power levels without sacrificing safety. We’ve focused on achieving that.” He acknowledged the unique challenges in marine battery technology, noting that operating in harsh sea conditions is much more demanding than on land.
AYK took the lead by securing class approval for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a safer alternative to Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) chemistry. This shift has encouraged others in the industry to follow suit.
This recent collaboration with Svitzer comes on the heels of AYK providing its ABS-certified AriesA 6MWh battery system for the Svitzer Balder, recognized as the world’s most powerful electric escort tug.
AYK Energy’s partnership with Svitzer originated in 2012 when Kruger oversaw the initial battery design for four diesel-electric hybrid tugs commissioned for the LNG terminal at Barrow Island, Western Australia. In 2025, AYK returned to rejuvenate the battery systems across this fleet, installing new Aries LFP batteries and delivering over 5MWh of additional power.
The products and services described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
