A NOK 250 million (USD $29.7 million) arrangement to construct the world’s first autonomous and electric containership was made on Wednesday between Norwegian chemical company YARA, technology company KONGSBERG and shipyard VARD.
The project has received NOK 133.6 million in support from the Norwegian government enterprise ENOVA.
VARD will deliver Yara Birkeland for launch in early 2020, and the vessel will gradually move from manned operation to fully autonomous operation by 2022.
The project was initiated in an effort to improve the logistics at Yara’s Porsgrunn fertilizer plant. Every day, more than 100 diesel truck journeys are needed to transport products from Yara’s Porsgrunn plant to ports in Brevik and Larvik where the company ships products to customers around the world.
Replacing 40,000 truck journeys a year, the Yara Birkeland will reduce NOx and CO2 emissions and improve road safety in a densely populated urban area.
“A vessel like Yara Birkeland has never been built before, and we rely on teaming up with partners with an entrepreneurial mindset and cutting edge expertise,” says Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO of YARA.
“VARD combines experience in customized ship building with leading innovation, and will deliver a game-changing vessel which will help us lower our emissions, and contribute to feeding the world while protecting the planet.”
Photo credit: Kongsberg Maritime
Published: 16 August, 2018
Mark Milford, VP of Cyber Security at Wärtsilä, offers Manifold Times readers some pointers on managing fake invoices and other types of cyber threats.
Cyberattacks in maritime increased by 900% from 2017 to 2020 and surged by 400% during the pandemic; Blockchain reduces costs and increases efficiencies – while guarding against cyber threats.
SEACOR Maya, SEACOR Azteca, SEACOR Warrior and SEACOR Viking to be classed with the BATTERY-Li notation.
The installation was completed in one day without having to dry dock the vessel and it is now on its way to Sweden, where Econowind will conduct start-up tests.
Implementation of MFM has enhanced transparency in the bunker supply chain, thereby increasing the preference of shipowners to purchase bunkers in Singapore.
LNG bunker fuel tank to be installed on vessel in June 2018, says Fassmer shipyard.
The Covid-19 pandemic in India, where the group’s assets of between USD 45 to 60 million, accounting, and reporting capabilities are located have affected expected pace of restructuring ops, explains legal team.
Significant uptick in the number of quality claims being alleged by ship owners has also been seen since the implementation of contactless bunkering operations, notes Partner at Rajah & Tann.
‘The launch of our company website signifies the readiness of Singfar to engage with relevant stakeholders to achieve our mission of enabling sustainable trade,’ Managing Director tells Manifold Times.
Associate Director at Helmsman highlights the need to stay up-to-date with latest protocols / measures introduced by MPA, with continuous education of Master and crew of the visiting vessel.
BunkerPlanner Lite is an attempt to educate professionals engaged in bunker decisions about the use of advanced technology in the decision process, explains BunkerMetric CEO Christian Plum.
Senior Associate at Clyde & Co offers guidance to protect shipowners and bunker tanker operators in the event opposing counterparty breaches Covid-19 protocols, resulting in Covid-19 transmission.
