Autonomous Cargo Ship
A new cargo ship design was recently unveiled in Norway that is not only fully autonomous but also totally fossil fuel free. Dubbed the Yara Birkeland, it’s the first of its kind in the world and a promising step forward in reducing the impact of the shipping industry on the environment.
The new ship is designed to carry mineral fertilizer from a manufacturing plant in Porsgrunn to a port in Brevik, about eight miles (12 kilometers) away. These types of short voyages are well-suited to electric power, which is supplied by eight batteries with a total capacity of 6.8 megawatt-hours — the approximate equivalent of 100 Teslas. It’s been estimated that the new vessel will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 678 metric tons per year by eliminating the need for 40,000 trips using trucks that are currently diesel-fueled.
The 260-foot (80-meter) ship has a maximum deadweight capacity of 3,200 metric tons and recently embarked on its maiden voyage in Oslo fjord. It will undergo a two-year testing period before becoming fully autonomous.
For information: Yara International ASA, Drammensveien 131, 0277 Oslo, Norway; phone: +47-2415-7000; Web site: https://www.yara.com/ or https://www.yara.com/corporate-releases/yara-to-start-operating-the-worlds-first-fully-emission-free-container-ship/