World’s first autonomous and zero emissions ship
Initially the ship will be manned, then move to running by remote in 2019, and operate autonomously from 2020.
The Yara Birkeland will be the world’s first fully electric and autonomous container ship, replacing up to 40,000 truck journeys annually.
The ship will be built to take materials from Norwegian company Yara’s Porsgrunn production plant to ports in Brevik and Larvik.
“As a leading global fertilizer company with a mission to feed the world and protect the planet, investing in this zero emission vessel to transport our crop nutrition solutions fits our strategy well. We are proud to work with Kongsberg to realize the world’s first autonomous, all-electric vessel to enter commercial operation,” says Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO of Yara.
“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 NOx and CO emissions,” says Holsether.
Initially the ship will be manned, then move to running by remote in 2019, and operate autonomously from 2020.
The ship’s sensors, controls, and communication and electric drive, battery and propulsion control systems will be built by Kongsberg, a supplier of high-technology systems to the maritime industry.
“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,” says Geir Håøy, President and CEO of Kongsberg.
“Developing systems for autonomous operations is a major opening and natural step for Kongsberg, considering our decades of expertise in the development and integration of advanced sensors, control and communication systems for all areas of ship operations. Yara Birkeland will set the benchmark for the application of innovative maritime technology for more efficient and environmentally friendly shipping.”
Update: 16 August 2018
It was announced today that shipbuilding company VARD will build the Yara Birkeland autonomous ship in its Brevik yard in Norway, and is set to finish and launch in early 2020. The hull will be constructed in VARD’s Braila yard in Romania.
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