The aim of the thesis was to provide insight into tugboats and their application. Tugboats represent an indispensable part of the maritime fleet of ships, especially in the port environment. Due to their high propulsion power and solid construction, they are capable of performing multiple operations, from assisting in the mooring of larger ships to a rescue role at sea. The need for this type of ship arises for several reasons, such as the difficult independent manoeuvring of large ships in narrow channels, crowded ports, transportation of dangerous cargo, etc. In addition to ships, tugboats can also tow barges and oil rigs. Today, there are seagoing tugs, harbour and river tugs, and with regard to the propulsion system there are tractor tugs, ASD tugs, rotor tugs and some other types. The use of innovative technologies in tugboats proved to be a turning point in the production of tugboats, hence in this thesis is described an electric tugboat with zero gas emissions and the world's first fully electric rechargeable tugboat - ZeeTug 30.