Motive Energy will design and deliver high-capacity charging and energy storage infrastructure to support Curtin Maritime’s electric tugboat fleet at the Port of Los Angeles, in what the companies described as one of the first purpose-built charging deployments in the United States for commercial marine operations.
Under the project, Motive Energy will supply four 1-megawatt charging systems along with a 10-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, all installed on a barge-based platform. The system will provide high-voltage direct current charging for electric tugboats while helping manage grid demand and improve operational resilience at the port.
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The charging platform will connect to new onshore utility service and include integrated transformers, switchgear and power-conversion equipment engineered for marine environments. Motive Energy said the chargers will feature marine-grade cable-handling systems and multiport configurations designed to support simultaneous vessel charging and fast turnaround times for daily tugboat operations.
The battery storage system is intended to play a central role in smoothing energy demand and reducing peak loads on the local grid. Pending approval from the Port of Los Angeles, the project may also incorporate solar generation to help lower lifetime emissions associated with fleet operations.
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“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,” said Bob Istwan, chief executive officer of Motive Energy.
Jeffrey Rome, executive vice president at Motive Energy, said the focus was on long-term operational performance. “It’s more than installing chargers; it’s building systems that deliver reliable power, day after day, without disrupting operations,” he said.
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Curtin Maritime said the charging infrastructure is a key component of its broader fleet electrification strategy. “Motive Energy’s engineering approach provides the performance, reliability, and adaptability required for continuous marine operations at the Port of Los Angeles,” said Martin Curtin, chief executive officer of Curtin Maritime.
The companies said further project milestones are expected in the coming months, subject to final engineering reviews and regulatory approvals. The deployment aligns with regional and port-level initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and establishing scalable models for zero-emission maritime operations.