Norway to build first zero-emission vessel

The Norwegian chemical company, Yara International in partnership with KONGSBERG, the global technology group manages the construction of the world’s first fully electric and autonomous container ship.

The vessel is to be named ‘Yara Birkeland’. It is foreseen to sail within twelve nautical miles from the coast, between three ports in Southern Norway.

Yara’s CEO, Svein Tore Holsether, explained: “Every day, more than 100 diesel truck journeys are needed to transport products from Yara’s Porsgrunn plant to ports in Brevik and Larvik where we ship products to customers around the world. With this new autonomous battery-driven container vessel we move transport from road to sea and thereby reduce noise and dust emissions, improve the safety of local roads, and reduce NOxand CO2 emissions.”

The Norwegian –based KONGSBERG is assigned with the development and delivery of all key enabling technologies on the vessel. It comprises the sensors and integration needed for remote and autonomous operations as well as the electric drive, battery and propulsion control systems.

KONGSBERG’s CEO, Geir Håøy declared: “By moving container transport from land to sea, Yara Birkeland is the start of a major contribution to fulfilling national and international environmental impact goals. The new concept is also a giant step forward towards increased seaborne transportation in general.”

Yara Birkeland is to operate at the beginning as a manned vessel moving to remote Yara operation in 2019. It is expected to be fully autonomous in 2020.