KMG’s electric supply ship to hold trials in second half

The tests would help refine the design and development of future e-supply vessels.

Kuok Maritime Group Pte. Ltd.’s (KMG) electric powered supply boat, the biggest in Singapore, will hold trial operations in the second half as part of the push by the city-state’s maritime sector to achieve net zero by 2050.

The PXO-EXL-1 electric supply boat, which can cruise at eight knots per hour (14.8 km/h) in zero-emission mode, also seeks to help companies eliminate fuel costs and boost revenue whilst transporting supplies, equipment, and personnel to offshore platforms.

“These trials will provide key insights into its operational efficiency, cost savings, and carbon emission savings,” Tan Thai Yong, CEO and managing director at KMG unit PaxOcean Marine & Offshore Pte. Ltd., told Marine & Industrial Report. “This paves the way for further innovation and infrastructure improvements to support the broader adoption of electric vessels.”

Lessons from the trials would help refine the design and development of future electric supply vessels, he said in an emailed reply to questions.

Singapore's maritime industry emitted 32.5 million metric tonnes of carbon in 2022, No. 7 amongst global emitters, according to a November 2024 report by German online data portal Statista.

]The 26-metre boat is powered by an energy storage system with two 500 kilowatt-hour batteries that are charged onshore, Tan said. Its propulsion system consists of two 300-kilowatt electric motors for a cruising speed of 8 knots and a range of 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) for extended anchorage areas.

Its hull design improves efficiency and cuts power consumption by as much as 10% at 10 knots under full load, said Tan, who is also chairman of the Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA), an industry-wide collaboration led by KMG.

The electric boat uses digital twin technology developed by the state-controlled Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.

“Unlike traditional vessels requiring frequent engine maintenance, the electric drivetrain significantly reduces mechanical wear and tear, leading to lower maintenance costs,” Tan said.

The PXO-EXL-1 has a payload capacity of up to 60 pallets or 40 metric tonnes, which is about four times that of a conventional supply boat. This allows fewer trips, replacing two to three conventional supply boats.
100 petrol cars off the road

Tan said they expect a fourfold increase in revenue for operators who use the electric supply boat compared with a conventional vessel. The e-supply boat seeks to eliminate fuel expenses for companies, resulting in as much as 40% annual fuel cost reduction per vessel, he added.

“Maintenance costs are also substantially lower due to the absence of an internal combustion engine, which requires frequent overhauls, oil changes, and component replacements,” Tan said.

The e-supply boat is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions equivalent to taking about 100 petrol cars off the road, he said. It also operates with zero-emission capabilities for 60% energy savings.

Tan said the reduction in Scope 3 emissions — greenhouse gas emissions that occur indirectly as a result of a company's business activities — per arrival at the Port of Singapore is 0.5 metric tonne.

“With about 600 trips a day, the reduction is 300 metric tonnes a day or 9,000 metric tonnes a month,” he said, adding that the vessel also cuts marine noise pollution.

PaxOcean’s engineering team designed the e-supply boat with support from CSA. Tan said building an e-supply boat costs two to three times that of a conventional one due to high battery costs, without providing exact figures. 

He said the battery system accounts for as much as 50% of the total investment, depending on the type of batteries and energy storage system used.

“The charging infrastructure is still in its early stages, and there is a need for high-powered chargers at strategic locations to support vessel operations,” Tan said. “However, ongoing advancements in battery technology are expected to drive costs down over time.”

Tan expects the transition to electric vessels to take time since the industry is still in its early stages of electrification.

“We are also working closely with industry partners to explore offtaking arrangements and collaborative opportunities that will further drive the adoption of electric harbour craft,” he added.