Electric Boats in Southeast Asia Cut Emissions – and Costs

Carbon Emissions from Ships are Large and Regulators are Pushing for Less

What is known emissions from ships is that ocean-going vessels accounts for about 2-3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). However, that’s for ocean-going vessels such as huge oil tankers and container ships. Fishing vessels add on another 0.5 percent, UNCTAD estimates. And even so, boats such as coastal cargo ships, ferries, tugboats and pleasure craft are not even included.

Given the number of boats in Southeast Asia for that carry everything from cargo and fish to tourists, and the need to reduce emissions, regulators in key countries across the region are developing policies or solutions to shift to electric boats.

In Singapore, for example, Riviera noted that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is encouraging investment in electric-powered harbour craft and shore power as part of its push for all harbour craft to operate on low-carbon energy solutions by 2030. Singapore’s PSA Marine is also interested in technology for reducing emissions in tugboats and terminals such as batteries, electric drives and azimuth thrusters.

In Indonesia, Antara reported, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is even going so far as to develop an electric boat to replace the outboard motorboats that fishermen generally operate, in order to help them reduce the operational costs.

Electric Boats start Solving the Emissions Issue in Southeast Asia

While electric boats are not yet feasible for ships on long ocean voyages, they can work well for the tens of thousands of smaller boats that sail along the coasts or ports in Southeast Asia and spew out carbon emissions. Shifting to electric boats would make a big dent in reducing emissions from shipping in Southeast Asia.

One example of a local solution is Azura’s MantaOne in Indonesia. Powered by an electric motor connected to an in-house designed Li-ion battery, it can run for 3 hours at up to 5 knots. The MantaOne electric propulsion engine was designed for sustainable fishing, and fisherfolk who use it can lower their monthly carbon footprint by up to 345 kg as well as reducing 60 percent of their operating costs. Azura is a social enterprise that aims to enhance the resilience of coastal fishing communities in Indonesia, according to the Jakarta Post, by integrating green technology and sustainable practices.

One of the first all-electric harbour craft in Singapore is Hydromover 1, built by Yinson GreenTech and its subsidiary MarinEV as a demonstration for transporting light cargo and crew to ships waiting outside the nation’s ports. Also in Singapore, Vallianz is building its first electric-powered tugboat and is working on technology to increase the range of future vessels.

Another is Singapore-based builder Penguin International, which Riviera said is a maker of high-speed aluminium boats that was set up in 1996. It is constructing Singapore’s first all-electric seagoing vessel and plans to build more all-electric and hybrid vessels both for its own fleet and for like-minded owners worldwide. Its boats transport personnel to Bukom Island, where Shell operates a refining and petrochemical complex. Penguin builds and operates these vessels as well as the shore-based infrastructure for charging them.

Additionally, Danfoss said a fully electric commercial service was launched by Singapore's homegrown aluminium craft specialist Penguin International, one of the key partners for the Danish multinational engineering group. In its current operational state, three fully electric commuter ferries powered by three rapid DC shore chargers transport around 3,000 people a day between the mainland and Pulau Bukom Island.

Along with individual companies, collectives are also going electric. The Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA), an industry collaborative effort led by Kuok Maritime Group, launched its first fully electric supply boat at Batam. The CSA, which says it is building Singapore’s next-generation coastal ecosystem, has expanded to 27 members.

At a smaller scale, new solar-powered river boats called Pyxis R ferries will replace half of Singapore river cruise operator WaterB’s fleet of 20 boats by the end of 2025, the Straits Times reported. Manufactured by local maritime start-up Pyxis, each boat has solar panels that can generate about 22 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. Pyxis says it is focusing on the long-term solution of retrofitting existing vessels with full-electric propulsion systems, including the 70 coastal vessels owned by Eng Hup, the founder’s family company.

In Thailand, as Plugboats noted some time ago, the launch of 200 e-ferries in the ‘Venice of the East’ could make Bangkok the electric ferry capital of the world. The Bangkok Post reported more recently that on-demand electric boat taxi service developed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is due to begin operating soon.

European makers of electric boats are also jumping into Southeast Asia to produce their boats in the region. Scandasia said Candela, the innovative Swedish company known for its electric-powered boats, has chosen Bangkok as its regional headquarters for Southeast Asia. Riviera said Damen Song Cam, the Vietnam-based yard that built an award-winning all-electric tug, is set to become the Dutch shipbuilding giant’s tug specialist as it moves steadily towards zero-emissions battery-powered workboats.

While the number of start-ups and small companies producing electric boats in Southeast Asia is not large, expect to see more as demand growth as well as regulations create a need for many more electric boats.