COLUMN | FALSE ECONOMY: REMOTE-CONTROLLED AUTONOMOUS SHIPS? [OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS]
The news that the bulk carrier Wakashio grounded off Mauritius and broke in two in August last year because the crew were navigating dangerously close to the shore in order to – wait for it – be able to pick up a mobile phone signal, is probably…
Second Test of Remotely Operated Tugboat Conducted in Japan
Japan took another step forward with its efforts to develop and demonstrate remote navigation technology. NYK and its group companies MTI Co., Keihin Dock Co., and Japan Marine Science (JMS) recently conducted a second test of a remotely controlled tugboat operating in Tokyo Bay. The…
THE E-FERRY ELLEN INFORMATION PACKAGE
Curious to know how it is possible to operate a car- and passenger ferry across a distance of 22 nautical miles on 100% electricity? The E-ferry, “Ellen” has since mid August 2019 been doing this 3-5 times a day, every day of the week on…
Plug-in and sail: Meet the electric ferry pioneers
“Have a pleasant journey,” blurts the tannoy, as the engines ramp up and we pull away from the harbour in Fynshav, southern Denmark. I’m aboard Ellen, an electric-powered ferry, sailing to the island of Ærø, in the west Baltic Sea. On the ship’s bridge, Captain…
EU grants USD 5.6 million for two hydrogen-fueled ships
EU awarded 5 million euros to the European innovation project Flagships, to support construction of two commercially operated zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vessels, one in Lyon, France and one in Stavanger, Norway. The funds have been granted from EU’s Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020, under…
This world’s biggest electric ferry runs between Sweden and Denmark 46 times per 24 hours.
The most recent episode of Fully Charged is about an electric ferry, which reportedly turns out to be the world’s biggest electric ship conversion. It entered service in November 2018. It’s equipped with a massive 4.1 MWh battery (640 packs) and 6 MW of power (four 1.5 MW propellers) with a…
All-electric ferry cuts emission by 95% and costs by 80%, brings in 53 additional orders
The operators of the first all-electric ferry in Norway are starting to get some good data on the vehicle and it’s nothing short of impressive. They claim that the all-electric ferry cuts emission by 95% and costs by 80% compared to fuel-powered counterparts and the results…
Two massive ferries are about to become the biggest all-electric ships in the world
Over the last year, ABB has been converting two of Sweden’s HH Ferries Group’s massive ferries from diesel engines to being completely battery-powered. Now the ships are reportedly close to launching, which would likely make them the biggest all-electric ships in the world. As we…
YARA selects Norwegian shipbuilder VARD for zero-emission vessel Yara Birkeland
The world’s first autonomous and electric container vessel is one step closer to launch, as YARA signs a deal with VARD worth appr NOK 250 million to build the vessel. VARD will deliver Yara Birkeland for launch in early 2020, and the vessel will gradually…