The project is co-funded by the European Union under the “Next Generation Lithuania” Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan, which allocated €11 million for low-emission inland waterway solutions.
KOTUG International, through its subsidiary Kotug Push-it B.V., has been awarded a landmark contract by the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority (VVKD) to deliver the first fully electric pusher tug to operate in the Baltic States. This strategic investment marks a bold step forward in Lithuania’s vision for a more sustainable inland waterway network.
The contract follows an international public tender and has received the green light from Lithuania’s National Security Coordination Commission. The vessel, designed and engineered in the Netherlands, will be built at the Padmos Shipyard in Stellendam and is expected to be operational by the end of next year following a comprehensive testing phase.
“This project represents a leap in sustainable inland shipping,” said Ard-Jan Kooren, President & CEO of KOTUG International. “We are proud to support Lithuania in realizing its ambition to decarbonize its transport sector through innovative electric propulsion. The EPUSHER-L is built to deliver zero-emission performance without compromising on power or endurance.”
The EPUSHER-L will operate on the Nemunas River and is designed for cargo transport using barges supplied by VVKD. With an endurance of up to 50 hours and a range of 300 kilometers on a single charge, the vessel combines operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. The switch from diesel to electric is expected to eliminate up to 91,500 kilograms of CO₂ emissions annually—significantly reducing the carbon footprint of waterway maintenance and cargo transport.
VVKD’s Director General, Vladimiras Vinokurovas, emphasized the significance of this investment:
“This investment marks a strategic shift in our operations: we are beginning the transition to an electric fleet. The first vessel will be used to maintain inland waterway infrastructure, and in the near future, we will increase the number of electric vessels,”
The project is co-funded by the European Union under the “Next Generation Lithuania” Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan, which allocated €11 million for low-emission inland waterway solutions. In addition to the electric pusher tug, VVKD will invest in an electric crane and new barge infrastructure.
With this milestone, KOTUG once again demonstrates its commitment to driving innovation in the maritime industry—offering scalable, future-proof solutions for a cleaner, smarter logistics chain.
The agreement for this E-Pusher L is yet another follow-up to the successful collaboration with our Launching Customer Cargill, for which the first E-Pusher M was deployed 2 years ago.