Curtin Maritime has selected Motive Energy to design and deliver primary charging and energy infrastructure to support its future fleet of electric tugboats at the Port of Los Angeles.
Motive Energy’s Sustainable Solutions division will develop what is described as one of the first large-scale, purpose-built charging deployments in the USA for commercial marine operations. The project follows Curtin Maritime’s earlier announcement of its plans to introduce electric tugboats into its fleet.
The charging system will include four 1MW high-capacity chargers designed to support the operational demands of electric tugboats, including fast turnaround times and multiport charging requirements. The chargers will deliver high-voltage DC output and are engineered for use in waterfront environments, with marine cable-handling systems and the ability to support multiple simultaneous charging connections per vessel.
Energy supply for the system will be supported by a 10MWh battery energy storage system designed to optimize energy availability, reduce peak grid demand and improve operational resilience. The full system will be installed on a barge-based platform connected to new onshore utility infrastructure.
Motive Energy will also integrate transformers, switchgear and power-conversion equipment as part of the project. Planned solar generation, subject to review and approval by the Port of Los Angeles, is intended to further reduce lifecycle emissions and support Curtin Maritime’s long-term sustainability goals.
Bob Istwan, CEO of Motive Energy, said the project highlights the role of energy infrastructure in enabling lower-emission marine operations. “Ports across the country are seeking viable pathways to reduce carbon emissions, and this project demonstrates the role that advanced energy infrastructure will play in enabling that transition,” he said.
Jeffrey Rome, executive vice president at Motive Energy, said the system had been designed around real-world port operations: “It’s more than installing chargers; it’s building systems that deliver reliable power, day after day, without disrupting operations.”
Curtin Maritime CEO Martin Curtin said, “This infrastructure is central to our investment in a cleaner and more efficient tugboat fleet,” he said, adding that the system will provide the reliability and adaptability required for continuous operations at the Port of Los Angeles.
The project is intended to support wider regional efforts to deploy clean maritime technologies and develop scalable models for zero-emission port operations. Further milestones are expected following final engineering reviews and stakeholder approvals.
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