The first autonomous container ship will soon be floating electrically across the sea

In order to become climate neutral by the end of this century, we have to turn a few screws. In addition to energy generation, transport also has a not inconsiderable share of the annual emissions. But we need to rethink not only on the road, but also on the water. Because container ships continue to pollute the environment more than is actually necessary.

This could change in the near future with the very first electric and at the same time autonomously operated container ship. At least the Norwegian company Yara prides itself on this: it put the means of transport on paper in 2017 and will use it to complete its first tour of Norwegian waters at the end of 2021.

The company is not new in this field; it has been pursuing the goal of a sustainable and fair world for decades. The former could be achieved with the maiden voyage in a few weeks, because the Yara Birkeland should then set sail without a single crew member on board. The route between the cities of Herøya and Brevik is used.

To ensure that everything really goes well, employees in three control centers continuously monitor the characteristics of the ship. In addition, people are still involved in loading and unloading the transport ship, but according to the company this process could also be (partially) automated in the near future.

On board the Yara Birkeland there is a battery with a capacity of 7 megawatt hours, with which the individual components of the ship are operated. This reaches a top speed of 13 knots and can transport sixty standard containers. The autonomous and electrified approach not only brings advantages for the environment, the costs should also be significantly lower in the long term and be competitive.

Own opinion:

We still have to take a big step, especially when it comes to converting old and mostly dirty ship engines. Shipping companies are often already acting and relying on hydrogen, but procuring it from sustainable sources is now proving to be a challenge. Projects like the one from Norway show, however, that a solution lurks wherever there is a will.

Via electrek