Autonomous Electric Ship Due for 2018
The World's First Autonomous, Zero Emission Container Ship?
It’s here!
Well.... almost.
The world’s first electric container ship, a joint effort between TARA Birkland and KONGSBERG, will start as a manned vessel in late 2018... with full autonomous operations beginning in 2020.
Operation is planned to start in the latter half of 2018, shipping products from YARA's Porsgrunn production plant to Brevik and Larvik in Norway.
The vessel will have both autonomous and remote sensors along with a propulsion control system, battery array and electric drive. It will reduce NOx and CO2 emissions created by 40,000 diesel-powered truck journeys per year.
This endeavor, according to YARA President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether, will improve road safety, as well as the reduction of NOx and CO2 emissions, not to mention noise and dust.
Not only does the ship sail autonomously on battery power, but the entire container-loading process is automated and electric as well.
Quite impressive, to say the least. We'll be watching.
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