Yara Birkeland arrives in Oslo before entering service
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Yara Birkeland, which is billed as the world’s first electric and self-propelled container ship, marked a milestone by completing its ceremonial maiden voyage and first visit to Oslo, Norway, before starting commercial service in early 2022. The The ship, which completed construction and was delivered a year ago, has undergone equipment and testing as it progresses towards the ultimate goal of starting fully autonomous operations in the future.
âWe have been looking forward to this day for a long time,â said Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara, the Norwegian fertilizer company that owns and will operate the vessel. âWe are proud to be able to present the world’s first fully electric, self-propelled container ship. It will reduce 1,000 tonnes of CO2 and replace 40,000 diesel truck trips per year, âHolsether said during the ship’s previews.
Yara Birkeland left Horten, Norway, about 35 miles south of Oslo at the head of the Oslo Fjord on the morning of November 18. The ship, which currently operates with a crew and a temporary bridge, sailed along the fjord arriving after dark in Oslo. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Skjæran were welcomed as the first official visitors to the new vessel this morning 19 November.
Measuring 260 feet long, the vessel is designed to carry up to 120 20-foot fertilizer containers. It will make two trips per week within 12 nautical miles of the Norwegian coast, between Porsgrunn, where Yara’s facilities are located, and Bevik, where the export port is located. It is equipped with two azimuthal nacelle propellers and thrusters, all powered by a battery pack developed by Leclanche of Switzerland. The batteries will provide 7 MW of power and will recharge automatically during charging and discharging operations.
The project was developed through a collaboration between several companies. Kongsberg is responsible for the development and delivery of all the technology to guide the vessel. The vessel is equipped with radar, lidar and cameras that will inform operations. Massterly, a joint venture between Kongsberg and Wilhelmsen, will monitor the ship’s operations from a center in Horten, Norway.
“Yara Birkeland is the result of the solid knowledge and experience we have in the Norwegian maritime cluster and industry. The project shows how we have developed world-class innovation that contributes to the green transition and offers great export opportunities for Norwegian technology and industry, âsaid Geir Håøy, CEO of Kongsberg Group.
From 2022, the vessel will enter a two-year trial period of the technology that will make the vessel self-propelled. During this time, the vessel will continue to operate with a crew while the systems are tested and improved. According to the companies, the sensors will be able to quickly detect objects as small as a kayak and take appropriate action to avoid the danger. They are working to finally be certified as an autonomous and fully electric container ship.
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