Indian Register of Shipping has accorded Type Approval Certification to the Towbarless Battery-Operated Tow Tug, developed by Premier Astra, a Coimbatore-based innovator.

This milestone marks a significant advancement in indigenous capability development under the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework. Premier Astra was selected in April 2024 as a recipient of the SPARK grant under Open Challenge 9.0 for the development of a remote-operated, towbarless tow tug designed specifically for shipboard deck manoeuvring of naval helicopters.

Recognising the critical operational requirements of naval platforms, Premier Astra approached IRS in May 2025 for Type Approval Certification of the iTOW20T. The certification process involved a comprehensive design appraisal and verification against stringent technical and naval standards.

This certification underscores IRS’s continued commitment to supporting indigenisation, innovation, and self-reliance in defence technologies, while enabling industry partners to meet rigorous naval standards.

The iTOW20T represents a step forward in enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in naval aviation support systems, leveraging battery-powered and remote-operated technologies tailored for constrained shipboard environments.

“This Type Approval Certification reflects IRS’s commitment to supporting indigenous innovation aligned with national defence requirements. We are proud to partner with Indian industry in enabling technologies that contribute to self-reliance and strengthen the country’s maritime and defence ecosystem,” said P K Mishra, MD at IRS.