Video: Building the First Autonomous, Zero Emissions Container Ship
S. Himmelstein | May 10, 2017
Autonomous and 100 percent electric, 'YARA Birkeland' will be the world's most advanced container feeder ship. Image credit: Kongsberg Maritime
The first zero emissions, fully electric and autonomous container ship is under development, with operation slated for the last half of 2018. Global fertilizer company Yara (Oslo, Norway) and technology group Kongsberg Maritime (Kongsberg, Norway) are partnering to build the container feeder ship.
The YARA Birkeland, named after Yara founder Kristian Birkeland, will reduce nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide emissions and improve road safety by removing up to 40,000 diesel-powered truck journeys annually in populated urban areas. The ship will initially operate as a manned vessel, moving to remote operation in 2019. Fully autonomous operations are expected in 2020.
Kongsberg is responsible for development and delivery of all key enabling technologies on YARA Birkeland, including the sensors and integration required for remote and autonomous operations, in addition to the electric drive, battery and propulsion control systems.
Most harbours have a requirement for a Pilot to master the navigation of a vessel into port. So how do they get around this legal requirement?
Full electric is okay, I guess this ship is only intended for short coastal runs so as part of the tie up is a plug in to charge the batteries. For my money an onboard Nuke generator would make more sense.
Having no onboard crew means that the loading shore crew will have to ensure the cargo is properly secure. One of the ship borne crews jobs is to monitor and secure loads that shift. Still being a calm water ship it may not be an issue.
I'm going to presume the "no Ballast" is because of the inherent weight of the batteries. However ships trim their ballast to match the sea conditions and their loads. I'm sure some numbnut shinybum engineer has the numbers to prove that this is all good.
Nice concept and Shipping in general has been trying for the past 50 years to diminish crew numbers this is one way to achieve that goal.
Old Swedish Proverb translates as " Shipping is Uncertain"
How is this truly zero-emissions in the grand scheme of things? That energy has to come from somewhere. This ship is merely deferring what would otherwise be its own emissions to that of onshore generation, no?
Digital pirates.
Adm. H. Rickover was one of a kind in modern history, but there must be a Rickover II out there pushing ahead with 40-year life autonomous seagoing propulsion reactor equipped with an irreversible disabling feature if someone tries to swipe it on the high seas. Of course, approaching and in harbor, there are a vast number of security and baby-sitting issues putting a ''crew'' in the loop.