Curtin Maritime, Long Beach, Calif., has selected Motive Energy, Tustin, Calif., to design and deliver charging and energy infrastructure to support the company’s future fleet of electric tugboats at the Port of Los Angeles, marking one of the first large-scale, purpose-built charging deployments in the U.S. for commercial marine operations, a Motive Energy press release said.
Under the agreement, Motive Energy’s Sustainable Solutions division will provide the primary charging and energy system for Curtin’s electric tug program, which the operator previously announced as part of its broader push toward lower-emission harbor operations.
Charging operations will be supported by four 1-MW high-capacity charging systems designed to meet the duty cycles and fast-turnaround requirements typical of harbor tug work. The chargers will deliver high-voltage DC power and are engineered to integrate with marine cable-handling systems. Motive said the configuration allows for multiple simultaneous charging ports per vessel, supporting consistent daily operations across the fleet.
At the center of the system will be a 10-MWh battery energy storage system intended to manage energy availability, reduce peak grid demand, and improve operational resilience. The full system is planned as a barge-based platform connected to new onshore utility service, with transformers, switchgear, and power-conversion equipment engineered and integrated by Motive Energy to meet marine operational requirements.
Planned solar resources, currently pending review and approval by the Port of Los Angeles, are intended to further reduce lifetime emissions and support long-term sustainability goals, Motive said.
“We are honored to partner with Curtin Maritime as they advance the next generation of environmentally sustainable marine operations,” said Bob Istwan, chief executive officer of Motive Energy. “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.”
“This deployment shows what it takes to keep electric tugboats running in real-time port conditions,” said Jeffrey Rome, AIA, executive vice president at Motive Energy. “It’s more than installing chargers; it’s building systems that deliver reliable power, day after day, without disrupting operations. That’s what happens when operators and infrastructure providers design together from the start.”
Curtin Maritime said the charging platform is a core component of its electric tug strategy at the Port of Los Angeles.
“This infrastructure is central to our investment in a cleaner and more efficient tugboat fleet,” said Martin Curtin, chief executive officer of Curtin Maritime. “Motive Energy’s engineering approach provides the performance, reliability, and adaptability required for continuous marine operations at the Port of Los Angeles.”
