Electric Propulsion News

Globally recognized maritime research institute MARIN has verified that efficiency levels modeled for ABB Dynafin™ propulsion concept will convert to real-world ship performance gains, following tests at its Concept Basin in the Netherlands.Launched in May 2023, after a decade of development, ABB Dynafin™ consists of a main electric motor that powers the rotation of a large horizontal wheel which supports vertical blades – each controlled by an individual motor to mimic the motion of a whale’s tail.

Seavolt and RAD Propulsion have formed a partnership to deliver complete electric propulsion solutions to boat manufacturers, marinas, ports, sporting organizations, and governments across Australia and the Pacific region.This collaboration brings together Seavolt’s marine charging technology and RAD Propulsion’s electric drive systems, offering customers a solution for electrifying their fleets.“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Seavolt to bring sustainable and high-performance solutions to Australia and the Pacific.

Damen Shipyards has delivered Germany’s first, all-electric catamaran (E-Kat) ferry to its operator AG Reederei Norden-Frisia.Capable of taking up to 150 passengers, the vessel will operate between Norddeich and Norderney on the East Frisian Wadden Sea.The 32-metre E-Kat has been designed to operate on a 30-minute route with 28 minutes allowed at each end to disembark and embark passengers.Built at Damen shipyards in Poland and the Netherlands, the vessel is driven by two propellers…

Van Oord, in cooperation with ZEDHub, Smart Delta Drechtsteden, the Municipality of Dordrecht and Port of Rotterdam, has demonstrated the operation of the fully electric crane vessel Christiaan P, a first for the dredging industry.Christiaan P. is a crane vessel owned by Paans Van Oord which was retrofitted to remove its engines and replace them with electric motors. The crane was also replaced by an electric one. The vessel is used for various kinds of marine engineering work…

DNV has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) to collaborate on developing new standards for using digital twins to test electric propulsion systems.The collaborative project aims to resolve issues related to the integration of highly complex vessel systems for electric propulsion. Utilizing hardware in the loop (HiL) testing via digital twins of the different systems enables integration tests to be performed both earlier in the process on a much broader and deeper level.Together…

Svitzer, a global towage and marine services provider, today announced it has ordered another battery-powered tug to add to its fleet.The tug will be used in the Øresund Strait between Denmark and Sweden. It will also contribute to achieving the ambitious targets Svitzer has set for decarbonising its global operations, to benefit its customers and communities.The new ASD electric tug is based on the design of naval architect Robert Allan Ltd. It is 25 meters long and has a 70-ton bollard pull (BP).

Danfoss today announced that Daniel Winter has been named president of Danfoss Power Solutions. He succeeds Eric Alström who, after 12 years with Danfoss, has decided to seek new challenges outside the company.Daniel Winter will join the Danfoss Group Executive Team and take over as President of Danfoss Power Solutions on January 1, 2025. He is well-prepared for the new role and has extensive experience within the company. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for Danfoss Power Solutions…

BB ELECTRA, the first fully electric powered tugboat to operate in Europe, has been extremely busy since arriving in Norway on April 8, 2024, to start working for environmentally-friendly operator Buksér og Berging.Built by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkiye to the exclusive to Sanmar ElectRA 2200SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, this game-changing tug has already completed 81 towage operations during 835 running hours.Part of a project unveiled in 2021, a total of seven ElectRA Series tugs are now in operation in Europe and North America…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for design and development proposals for its electric patrol craft.In addition to meeting MPA’s operational requirements, the designs must include safety features such as advanced battery management systems, secure battery compartments to maintain fire, gastight, and watertight integrity, and intelligent cooling systems for optimal thermal management. Proposals must also include efficient…

Maine Ocean Farms is investing in custom-built electric workboats and Aqua superPower's  marine fast charging to power its oyster farming operations, a project is made possible courtesy of a $500,000 grant from the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy plus another $500,000 in matching funds.Aqua superPower leads this electrification project, in partnership with Maine Clean Communities. Fogg’s Boatwoks in North Yarmouth, Maine, will design and build the custom workboat.

Dutch firm KOTUG has received an order from Rotterdam-based sand handling and transport specialist, ROS, for the delivery of a fully electric pusher tug, the E-Pusher.The E-Pusher, model M, will be deployed in combination with barges provided by Jansma Shipping to establish an emission-free sand transport chain between the Maasvlakte and Rotterdam.The fully electric E-Pusher, developed by KOTUG, is scheduled for completion in May 2025.The entire emission-free system - from transshipment…

Norwegian lifting and handling specialist Seaonics has tested its Ocean Charger solution on an electric service operation vessel (SOV).High-voltage charging tests were conducted to charge the batteries on Rem Offshore’s diesel-electric hybrid construction SOV, REM Power, in port as well offshore from a charging point (cable reel, winch and control system) mounted on a wind turbine."At 10 years old, the turbine is one of the smallest offshore but the prototype proved it is possible to install the Ocean Charger on an existing turbine and charge an SOV from day one…

Industry group CIMAC and the Maritime Battery Forum have published the first of three white papers on the use of batteries in deep-sea shipping.This first paper, Environment for the use of batteries in deep-sea shipping: Use cases and application areas, demonstrates the potential for battery usage even though a fully battery-powered, zero-emission application is not yet available.Currently, vessels on order include hybrid propulsion vehicle carriers and oil/chemical tankers. Installations typically vary between 350kWh and 2,847 kWh.

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a design concept of the hydrogen-fueled engine compatible oil tanker with electric propulsion system.The 5,000KL oil tanker design has been developed by Uyeno Transtech, Yanmar Power Technology, and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.This is the world’s first AiP certification for the design of an oil tanker using liquefied hydrogen as a fuel.The ship was designed as part of the ‘Development of Large-scale Hydrogen-fueled Domestic Tanker…

The Panama Canal Authority ordered 10 hybrid tractor tugboats from European shipbuilder, Astilleros Armón, with options for another 10 similar vessels, and Corvus Energy will supply the battery systems for the hybrid-electric vessels.The Panama Canal Authority / Astilleros Armón contract signed in October 2023 was valued at $150 million total for the first 10 vessels, each 30-meter tugboats with 70-tonnes bollard pull.The tugboats will be equipped with hybrid-electric propulsion systems to reduce emissions during ship towage through the Panama Canal and while docking in Panamanian ports.

NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group have announced plans to establish the first “green shipping corridors” between Ireland and the UK.The proposed project would see NatPower Marine develop the UK’s first commercial electric ship (e-ship) charging network to support electric propulsion and shoreside power as part of a global network.The network – which would require an estimated £100m investment from NatPower Marine – would see this dedicated e-ship charging infrastructure delivered across all eight UK and Irish ports operated by Peel Ports Group.

EST-Floattech will be providing the battery system for the purpose-built electric-landing utility vessel (E-LUV) to be built at Coastal Workboats’ new yard Stornoway. The company will also provide the shore-based power supply system.The collaboration with Coastal Workboats Scotland is realized due to Coastal Workboats receiving a £6 million (€7 million) grant to demonstrate the UK's first commercial electric workboat and charging station from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.The BV-classed E-LUV is set to be the UK's first commercial electric workboat.

The Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA), an industry collaborative effort led by Kuok Maritime Group (KMG), has announced the start of construction of its first fully electric PXO-series tug (e-tug) and supply boat (e-supply boat) by PaxOcean Group.The zero-emissions vessels are among the first and largest local electric harbour craft designed for operation in Singapore’s coastal waters. They are targeted for deployment in 2025, ahead of the nation’s goal for all new coastal…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched the first pilot trial for electric harbor craft charging point at the Marina South Pier (MSP).The charging point was awarded to the Pyxis Energy, Pyxis Maritime, and SP Mobility partnership. Pyxis’s fleet of electric harbor craft operating at MSP will serve as the base offtake to ensure optimization of the charging infrastructure.The Pyxis and SP Mobility partnership has deployed a 150kW land-based direct current fast charger with a Combined Charging System 2 connector at MSP.

American Bureau Of Shipping (ABS) has joined the BlueBARGE project, a program funded by the Horizon Europe program and involving 14 partners from 10 European countries to develop a comprehensive solution for offshore electrical power bunkering.ABS is leading the 36-month, $11.9 million (€11 million) project and will support the consortium in safety, classification and regulatory compliance.To limit local pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, BlueBARGE is developing and testing a new way for ships docked in port to plug into electrical power known as cold ironing.

Chevron has chartered its first hybrid electric bunker tanker from V-Bunkers that will be used to provide fuel to maritime customers in Singapore region.The bunker tanker is expected to consume approximately 20% less fuel compared to a conventional tanker as it goes about its operations, which can reduce emissions and costs, according to Chevron.Instead of three auxiliary engines, as a conventional fueling barge this size would have, the barge has two auxiliary engines and an electric power distribution system.Current technology doesn’t allow barges to run completely on electricity…

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar has delivered the sixth electric power tugboat from its ElectRA series to Norwegian operator Buksér og Berging.Named BB ELECTRA by its new owners, the tug will be based at the Port of Oslo.It boasts exclusive-to-Sanmar ElectRA 2200 SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan, and represents the eighth tug that Sanmar has delivered to Buksér og Berging.With an overall length of 22.2 meters excluding fenders, molded breadth of 10.84 meters and least molded depth of 4.4 meters, BB ELECTRA has 1.718 kWh of battery power.

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar has launched electric battery-powered ElectRA tug for its own fleet, which will provide towage, ship assistance and escorting services at six ports around Turkiye.ElectRA will be the seventh electric battery tug delivered from Sanmar Shipyards within a year, five of which are already operating in Vancouver in Canada, while the sixth is currently being delivered to Norway.Based on the ElectRA 2300SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd…