---
title: Veseel search by claw
description: 
published: true
date: 2026-05-07T00:36:57.380Z
tags: 
editor: markdown
dateCreated: 2026-05-07T00:36:57.380Z
---

# Electric Propulsion Ships / Vessels Under 1MW

## Overview

This document surveys electric and hybrid-electric propulsion vessels with total propulsion power under 1 MW (≈ 1,341 hp). This power range covers the majority of small-to-medium commercial, recreational, and specialized marine vessels.

---

## 1. Market Power-Segment Categorization

The electric ship market is commonly segmented by propulsion power output. Multiple market research firms use the following standard breakdown:

| Power Segment | Typical Applications |
|---|---|
| **< 75 kW** | Small recreational boats, dinghies, small patrol boats, canal boats |
| **75 – 150 kW** | Passenger ferries, water taxis, small workboats, tourism vessels |
| **151 – 745 kW** | Medium ferries, tugboats, fishing vessels, patrol vessels, OSVs |
| **746 – 7,560 kW** | Large ferries, offshore supply, cargo vessels, larger tugs |
| **> 7,560 kW** | Large ocean-going ships, cruise ships, container vessels |

- **Source:** Grand View Research — [Electric Ship Market Report 2030](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/electric-ship-market)
- **Source:** GMI Research — [Electric Ship Market 2020–2027](https://www.gmiresearch.com/report/electric-ship-market/) (segments: <75kW, 75–150 kW, 151–745 kW, 746–7,560 kW)
- **Source:** Precision Business Insights — [Electric Ship Market Report 2032](https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/electric-ship-market) (segments: <75KW, 75–150 KW, 150–745 KW, 746–7560 KW, >7560 KW)
- **Source:** MarketsandMarkets — [Electric Ship Market 2032](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/electric-ships-market-167955093.html)

**Key Market Finding (GVR):** The *<75 kW* segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR (12.0%), while the *75–150 kW* segment led the global market in 2021 and is projected to maintain dominance through 2030.

---

## 2. Vessel Type Categorization Under 1 MW

### 2.1 By Propulsion System Type

| Category | Description | Typical Power Range |
|---|---|---|
| **Fully Electric (Battery)** | Zero-emission, batteries as sole energy source | 10 – 750 kW |
| **Hybrid-Electric** | Diesel generator + battery, serial or parallel | 50 – 1,000 kW |
| **Plug-in Hybrid** | Shore charging + onboard generator backup | 50 – 500 kW |
| **Fuel Cell Electric** | Hydrogen/fuel cell primary or range extender | 50 – 500 kW |
| **Solar-Electric** | PV panels + battery, auxiliary propulsion | < 40 kW |

### 2.2 By Operational Role (under 1 MW)

1. **Small Passenger Ferries / Water Taxis**
   - Short-route, frequent docking, opportunity charging
   - Example: Nerthus ferry (Danfoss drives), Casco Bay Lines hybrid ferries
   - Typical power: 50 – 400 kW

2. **Harbor & Ship-Assist Tugs**
   - High bollard pull, intermittent high-power bursts
   - First US all-electric truckable tug: 26 ft, 300+ kW (two PM motors)
   - Case study tug (Springer): 360 kW rated, 720 kW peak
   - Typical power: 200 – 750 kW

3. **Fishing Vessels**
   - Hybrid configurations for fuel savings, silent operation
   - Example: Selfa El-Max 1099 — 80 kW diesel gen + 135 kWh battery
   - Typical power: 50 – 500 kW

4. **Workboats / Utility Vessels**
   - Harbour maintenance, survey, crew transfer
   - Typical power: 50 – 400 kW

5. **Patrol & Enforcement Vessels**
   - Coast guard, police, border patrol
   - Typical power: 75 – 500 kW

6. **Recreational / Pleasure Boats**
   - Day cruisers, sailboat auxiliary, luxury tenders
   - Examples: X Shore Eelex 8000 (175 kW peak), Optima E10 (40 kW)
   - Typical power: 10 – 200 kW

7. **Small Cargo / Inland Waterway Vessels**
   - Containerized battery solutions, short-range
   - Example: China's "Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1" — 500 kW fuel cell
   - Typical power: 200 – 750 kW

---

## 3. Real Vessel Examples Under 1 MW

| Vessel / Project | Type | Propulsion Power | Battery / Energy | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **X Shore Eelex 8000** | Recreational | 175 kW peak / 145 kW continuous | — | [BoatTEST](https://boattest.com/article/20-electric-boats-choose) |
| **Selfa El-Max 1099** | Fishing | 80 kW (diesel gen) | 135 kWh battery | [Wikipedia: Electric boat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_boat) |
| **Optima E10** | Day cruiser | 40 kW | 2×63 kWh Kriesel batteries | [MBY](https://www.mby.com/features/best-electric-boats-116768) |
| **Small Truckable Tug (US)** | Harbor tug | 300+ kW (2× PM motors) | — | [WorkBoat](https://www.workboat.com/shipbuilding/designing-the-first-fully-electric-truckable-tug) |
| **Tugboat Case Study (Springer)** | Harbor tug | 360 kW rated / 720 kW peak | 518.4 kWh per operating mode | [Springer Nature Link](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-6138-0_77) |
| **ENVGO NV1 Hydrofoil** | Leisure / Hydrofoil | 220 kW (2×110 kW) | — | [Plugboats](https://plugboats.com/high-performance-electric-hydrofoiling-leisure-boat/) |
| **FlyShark FS90 (Baywatt)** | Outboard motor | 48 kW | 56 kWh battery | [Baywatt](https://www.baywatt.com/collections/electric-outboard-motors) |
| **Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1** | Inland cargo | 500 kW (fuel cell) | Hydrogen fuel cell | [ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319924041430) |
| **E-Kotug Rotortug** | Harbor tug (hybrid) | Multiple Cat engines + electric | Hybrid config | [E-Mobility Engineering](https://www.emobility-engineering.com/ekotug-rotortug-powertrain/) |
| **Nerthus (Danfoss)** | Electric ferry | All-electric (specifics TBD) | Danfoss iC7 drives | [Danfoss](https://www.danfoss.com/en/campaigns/dds/electrification-in-marine/) |
| **Battery Steele (Casco Bay Lines)** | Hybrid ferry | Electric-diesel hybrid | — | [WorkBoat](https://www.workboat.com/senesco-marine-launches-hybrid-ferry-for-casco-bay-lines) |

---

## 4. Classification Societies & Standards for Electric Propulsion

### Major Classification Societies (IACS Members)

| Society | Headquarters | Key Rules for Electric Propulsion |
|---|---|---|
| **DNV** (Det Norske Veritas) | Norway | DNVGL-RU-SHIP Pt.6 Ch.2 — Battery(Power), Battery(Safety) notations; AP notation for alternative propulsion |
| **ABS** (American Bureau of Shipping) | USA | Requirements for Hybrid Electric Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications (2024) |
| **LR** (Lloyd's Register) | UK | Rules for electrical and electronic installations, electric propulsion |
| **BV** (Bureau Veritas) | France | Marine & Offshore rules for electrification projects |
| **KR** (Korean Register) | South Korea | Electric propulsion system rules (domestic & international) |
| **CCS** (China Classification Society) | China | Rules for electric propulsion and hybrid systems |

### Applicable Standards

- **IEC 60092-501** — International standard for design, construction, and installation of electric propulsion systems (primary reference for all classification societies)
- **IEC 60092-101** through **-507** — Electrical installations in ships (series covering generation, distribution, protection, cables, etc.)
- **ISO 16315** — Small craft — Electric propulsion system
- **ISO 10088** — Fuel systems for small craft

**References:**
- [DNV Rules for Classification of Ships](https://www.dnv.com/rules-standards/)
- [ABS Hybrid Electric Power Systems Requirements (PDF)](https://ww2.eagle.org/content/dam/eagle/rules-and-guides/current/conventional_ocean_service/319-requirements-for-hybrid-electric-power-systems-for-marine-and-offshore-applications-2024/319-hybrid-electric-power-systems-reqts-Apr24.pdf)
- [TandF: Regulatory improvement of marine EPS based on IEC and classification rules](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20464177.2024.2436725) — Compares IEC 60092-501 with KR, ABS, DNV, LR, BV rules
- [Bureau Veritas — Electrification of Marine Vessels](https://marine-offshore.bureauveritas.com/magazine/other-electric-vehicle-revolution-electrification-marine-vessels)

---

## 5. Key Industry Players (Electric Propulsion Systems Under 1 MW)

| Company | Product / Solution | Power Range |
|---|---|---|
| **Wärtsilä** | DC/AC hybrid systems, Low Loss Solution, full electric packages | 100 kW – multi-MW |
| **GE Vernova (Power Conversion)** | Commercial marine electric power & propulsion | LV & MV, all scales |
| **ABB** | Marine & ports electric propulsion, Azipod | 100 kW – multi-MW |
| **Siemens Energy** | SGM shaft generator/motor, BlueDrive Plus C | 100 kW – multi-MW |
| **Danfoss Drives** | iC7 series, Editron system | 10 kW – 1 MW |
| **Yanmar** | Marine commercial electric propulsion systems | 100 kW – 1 MW |
| **Fischer Panda** | Diesel electric drive systems for smaller vessels | 5 – 50 kW |
| **Torqeedo** | Electric outboards and inboards (Deep Blue, Cruise) | 1 – 100 kW |
| **Oceanvolt** | Electric inboard motors (ServoProp, SD system) | 6 – 50 kW |
| **ePropulsion** | I-Series, Navy series inboard motors | 10 – 40 kW |
| **Integrel Solutions** | E-Drive hybrid-electric system | 10 – 50 kW |
| **Transfluid** | EPS Marine system with Reverse gearbox | 11 – 700 kW |

**References:**
- [Wärtsilä Electric Propulsion Systems](https://www.wartsila.com/marine/products/ship-electrification-solutions/electric-propulsion-systems)
- [GE Vernova Commercial Marine](https://www.gevernova.com/power-conversion/product-solutions/Commercial-Marine-Electric-Power-and-Propulsion)
- [Siemens Energy Marine](https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/home/products-services/product/electric-propulsion-and-drives.html)
- [Yanmar Marine Electric Propulsion](https://www.yanmar.com/us/marinecommercial/products/electricpropulsion/)
- [Fischer Panda Marine Electric Propulsion](https://fischerpanda.com/electric-propulsion/)
- [Leonardo DRS Electric Ship Propulsion](https://www.leonardodrs.com/what-we-do/products-and-services/electric-and-hybrid-electric-ship-propulsion-systems/)
- [Integrel E-Drive](https://integrelsolutions.com/integrel-e-drive/)
- [Transfluid EPS Marine](https://www.transfluid.eu/en/product/eps-marine-system/)

---

## 6. Key Technical Observations (Sub-1 MW)

1. **DC Distribution Dominance**: Most modern sub-1 MW electric propulsion systems use DC distribution (690 VDC or 400 VDC bus), enabling easier integration of batteries, renewable sources, and multi-level converters.

2. **Low Voltage vs Medium Voltage**: Vessels under 1 MW almost exclusively use **low voltage** (≤ 1,000 VAC / ≤ 1,500 VDC). MV systems (>1 kV) are typically for 1 MW+ installations.

3. **Battery Sizing**: Battery capacity for sub-1 MW vessels ranges from ~50 kWh (small ferries) to 1+ MWh (larger tugs). Opportunity charging at docking is standard for ferries.

4. **Propulsion Motor Types**: Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are increasingly preferred for their high torque density and efficiency, especially in the sub-1 MW range.

5. **Power Converter Trends**: Two-level converters are standard in most sub-1 MW installations, but **multi-level (3-level NPC/T-type) converters** are gaining traction for their improved efficiency and power quality — particularly relevant for this Master's thesis topic.

6. **Regulatory Framework**: All electric propulsion installations under 1 MW must comply with classification society rules and IEC 60092-501, with additional requirements from flag state authorities.

---

*Document generated: 2026-05-05*
