Robert Allan Ltd. has partnered with Cheoy Lee Shipyards to design the new AmpRA 2900-CL series of battery-electric ship-assist tugs, featuring up to 7 MWh of battery capacity and a 70-tonne bollard pull. Engineered to operate entirely on zero-emission battery power for daily operations, the vessels include two backup generators to provide maximum operational flexibility for long-range transport and extended tasks.
Vancouver and Hong Kong | May 8, 2026 – Moving aggressively to capitalize on the rapidly accelerating push for port-side decarbonization, prominent Canadian naval architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd. has signed a landmark contract with Hong Kong’s Cheoy Lee Shipyards. The agreement tasks the firm with designing a pioneering new series of battery-electric ship-assist tugs designated as the AmpRA 2900-CL class.
The deal builds directly upon a long-standing, high-volume production partnership between the designer and the shipyard, most recently demonstrated by the successful completion of a 16-vessel Z-Tech 6000 contract for PSA Marine. This new series, however, pivots away from conventional medium-speed diesel configurations, pushing the partnership into zero-emission harbor towage assets.
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Massive 7 MWh Energy Storage for True Zero-Emission Operations
The standout feature of the new AmpRA 2900-CL design is its massive energy footprint. Outfitted with up to 7 MWh of on-board battery capacity, the vessel will hold one of the dense energy storage systems (ESS) currently available in the sub-30-meter workboat segment.
Unlike older hybrid designs that rely on internal combustion engines to handle peak transient loads, the AmpRA 2900-CL is engineered to complete its standard daily ship-assist rotations entirely on battery power alone.
High-Output Charging Infrastructure
To support full-spectrum daily service without disrupting tight port timetables, the series will leverage high-voltage shore charging stations, enabling rapid top-offs between ship shifts. This transition to pure-electric operations completely eliminates localized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soot, and structural vibration, while significantly minimizing localized port-side noise pollution during nighttime operations.
Technical Profile: Combining Heavy Thrust with Escort Precision
While the propulsion architecture is completely modern, the vessel maintains the aggressive hydrodynamics and extreme stability requirements expected of modern harbor escorts.
| Performance Metric | Design Target / Specification |
| Vessel Class | AmpRA 2900-CL Series |
| Designer / Architect | Robert Allan Ltd. (Vancouver, Canada) |
| Shipyard Base | Cheoy Lee Shipyards Ltd. (Hong Kong / Zhuhai) |
| Max Battery Capacity | 7 MWh (Lithium-ion ESS) |
| Peak Performance | Up to 70 Tonnes Bollard Pull |
| Operational Mandate | Full Escort & Ship-Assist Capabilities |
| Primary Fuel Source | Pure Shore-Charged Electricity |
The Hybrid Flexibility Matrix: Dual Backup Generators
To solve the geographical and operational bottlenecks that typically hold back pure-electric commercial vessels, Robert Allan Ltd. has integrated a highly flexible hybrid contingency plan into the AmpRA 2900-CL design.
While the tugs will run exclusively on battery power during normal port maneuvers, the hull form will house two compact auxiliary diesel generator sets.
Operational Strategy: These onboard generators act strictly as range extenders, coming online only to support long-distance delivery voyages across open water, handle extended emergency salvage operations, or sustain operations during prolonged shore-side grid disruptions. This provides port operators with zero-compromise flexibility while maintaining a massive reduction in routine fuel consumption and localized diesel maintenance overhead.
Commercial Context: Tapping into Global Green Port Mandates
The unveiling of the AmpRA 2900-CL arrives as major international ports enact strict, penalty-backed environmental regulations. With global maritime hubs targeting net-zero localized footprints by 2030, and regional emissions frameworks penalizing auxiliary diesel combustion, the demand for high-bollard-pull electric tonnage has surged.
By delivering up to 70 tonnes of bollard pull on a pure-electric drivetrain, the AmpRA 2900-CL offers a drop-in replacement for traditional harbor tugs, capable of handling modern panamax and post-panamax merchant tonnage while wiping carbon footprints off the local balance sheet.
Cheoy Lee Shipyards (Commercial Vessels & Luxury Yachts)
Managed continuously by the Lo family for over 150 years, now spanning its fourth and fifth generations, Cheoy Lee Shipyards is one of the most resilient and operationally versatile shipbuilders in the global maritime industry.
While initially recognized for its pioneering advancements in fiberglass and composite construction, the company has evolved into a high-capacity, multi-material shipbuilder. Each year, Cheoy Lee transforms tens of thousands of tons of steel, aluminum, and advanced composites into high-performance commercial workboats, specialized port-side assets, and world-class luxury motor yachts.
Robert Allan Ltd. (Naval Architects & Marine Engineers)
Founded in 1928 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Robert Allan Ltd. stands as Canada’s most senior privately owned consulting naval architectural firm. Over nearly a century of continuous operation, the company has built a towering international reputation for innovative, high-performance ship designs.
While the firm’s extensive portfolio spans a diverse range of vessels, including small commercial fishing boats, deep-sea research ships, and ocean-going ferries, it is globally recognized as the definitive market leader in the design of high-bollard-pull harbor tugs, escort tugs, and multi-purpose terminal support craft.
Proprietary Global Vessel Portfolios
Robert Allan Ltd. is best recognized by the global maritime sector for its distinct, trademarked hull configurations, which are built under license by shipyards worldwide to meet highly specific operational challenges:
1. The Z-Tech® Series
An award-winning, revolutionary harbor tug design optimized for ultra-large container terminals. The Z-Tech hull seamlessly merges the primary advantages of an Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug with those of a traditional tractor tug. Featuring a wide beam and a uniquely shifted forward skeg, it offers exceptional escort capabilities and unparalleled safety when operating close to the heavily flared bows of modern mega-boxships.
2. The RAstar® Series
A premium class of high-performance escort tugs explicitly engineered for offshore LNG terminal operations and heavy sea states. The RAstar design utilizes a proprietary sponsoned hull shape that dramatically increases escort steering and braking forces compared to standard flat-sided hulls. This advanced geometry significantly dampens roll motions, enhancing crew safety in rough open waters.
3. The RAmparts® Series
The world’s most widely built family of standard ASD harbor tugs. Designed as a flexible, highly adaptable platform, RAmparts tugs can be customized across various lengths and power configurations to suit specific port dimensions, making them a highly dependable, cost-effective staple for international fleet operators.
4. Specialized and Alternative-Fuel Craft
Beyond harbor operations, the firm specializes in high-speed fireboats (RAfire series), shallow-draft river pushboats (RApide series), and specialized crew transfer vessels (CTVs) for the offshore wind sector.
Source: Robert Allan Ltd.