LONDON, July 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to The Business Research Company’s research report on the electric ships market, the rise in the adoption of hybrid and electric propulsion for retrofitting ships is anticipated to drive the growth of the electric ships market. An eco-friendly ship’s electric propulsion system is a hybrid system that uses dual-fuel engines, batteries, and fuel cells as multiple power sources. However, technologies such as fuel storage facilities, gas vaporizers, and battery thermal runaway avoidance must all be developed concurrently to apply these power sources to ships.

For instance, in February 2021, the 2030 Green Ship-K Promotion Strategy, which is a key component of South Korea’s aim to become carbon-neutral by 2050, focuses on the advancement and widespread use of low-carbon ship technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells and propulsion systems. The initiative’s goal is to reduce the country’s shipping greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in the next 25 years and 70% by 2050. Furthermore, Kawasaki has received its first order for large-capacity battery propulsion systems for coastal ships. Large-capacity lithium-ion (Li-ion) marine batteries, a propulsion control system, and an electric power management system are all part of the battery propulsion system. In addition, in February 2019, Wartsila signed a contract for a hybrid retrofit installation with Hagland Maritime AS, an international shipping firm. The ship’s environmental performance will be greatly improved with the installation of a Wartsila battery hybrid propulsion technology, which will reduce pollutants, fuel consumption, and noise.

Request for a sample of the global electric ships market report

The global electric ships market size is expected to grow from $6.39 billion in 2021 to $7.12 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The electric ships market share is expected to grow to $11.06 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 11.6%.

Technological advancements are shaping the electric ships market. The welding consumables market is increasing its demand by introducing and applying new technologies and their updated software to the industry. The automotive industry is increasingly focusing on integrating smarter and safer safety systems into vehicles for better safety in different terrains and conditions. For instance, in November 2021, the Yara Birkeland, the world’s first electric and self-propelled container ship with zero emissions, made its first voyage in the Oslo fjord. Yara Birkeland is a multi-actor project in which KONGSBERG is in charge of the development and delivery of all newly created technologies on the ship. Massterlys’ monitoring and operations center in Horten will be in charge of the ship. KONGSBERG and Wilhelmsen have teamed up to form Massterly.

Major players in the electric ships market are ABB Ltd., Wartsila, Kongsberg, Norwegian Electric Systems AS, Corvus Energy, General Dynamics Electric Boat, MAN Energy Solutions SE, Leclanche SA, Siemens AG, General Electric Company, Bureau Veritas, Canadian Electric Boat Company, Electrovaya Inc., Triton Submarines, Duffy Electric Boats, and Akasol AG.

The global electric ships market segmentation is categorised by type into fully electric, hybrid; by mode of operation into manned, remotely operated, autonomous; by system into energy storage systems, power conversion, power generation, power distribution; by power into less than 75KW, 75 to 150KW, 151 to 745KW, 746 to 7,560KW, greater than 7,560KW; by range into less than 50Km, 50 to 100Km, 101 to 1000Km, greater than 1,000Km.

Western Europe was the largest region in the electric ships market in 2021. The regions covered in the electric ships industry analysis are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

Electric Ships Global Market Report 2022 – Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2022-2026 is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provide electric ships market overviews, analyze and forecast market size and growth for the whole market, electric ships market segments and geographies, electric ships market trends, electric ships market drivers, electric ships market restraints, electric ships market leading competitors’ revenues, profiles and market shares in over 1,000 industry reports, covering over 2,500 market segments and 60 geographies.

The report also gives in-depth analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the market. The reports draw on 150,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. A highly experienced and expert team of analysts and modelers provides market analysis and forecasts. The reports identify top countries and segments for opportunities and strategies based on market trends and leading competitors’ approaches.

Source: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/07/19/2482088/0/en/Electric-Ships-Market-Size-To-Reach-11-Billion-Due-To-The-Rise-In-Adoption-Of-Hybrid-And-Electric-Propulsion-For-Retrofitting-Ships-As-Per-The-Business-Research-Company-s-Electric-.html

The maritime classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is set to evaluate the autonomous functions of SpaceX’s rocket-recovery droneships for compliance with its Guide for Autonomous and Remote-Control Functions, published last year.

Under a joint-development project between the companies, ABS will review the design of one of SpaceX’s three droneships, which are used as unmanned, seaborne landing platforms for the spacecraft company’s reusable booster rockets when they return to earth. Citing the “unique and challenging operating requirements” of the droneships, ABS will apply a risk-based approach when evaluating the crafts’ autonomous functions.

Founded in 1862, ABS is a ship-classification society that sets and maintains technical standards for ships and offshore structures. It issued the guide last year to provide a goal-based framework establishing the technical requirements for autonomous and remote-control functions at sea. The guide also established two new class notations, AUTONOMOUS and REMOTE-CON.

The SpaceX droneships consist of an expanded landing deck for rocket landings. Entirely unmanned, the platforms maneuver with four thruster engines and are covered with blast shielding to protect electrical and engine equipment on deck. An onboard robot is used to secure rocket boosters after they land and before the ship returns to port.

“Through our work on autonomous and remote-control technologies in projects with leading partners all over the world, ABS has been leading the way in supporting its practical application at sea,” says Patrick Ryan, ABS senior vice president for global engineering and technology. “This makes us ideally placed to work with SpaceX on its unique and exciting project. We are proud that our capabilities in this area have been recognized by a true pioneer such as SpaceX.”

Source: https://www.iotworldtoday.com/2022/07/19/spacexs-autonomous-rocket-recovery-droneships-being-evaluated/

HamiltonJet  has announced that it has signed an agreement with Auckland Transport for the delivery of the first of five hybrid-electric propulsion systems. These are destined for 300 and 200 passenger ferries operated by @Fullers360 in Auckland.

The sale of waterjets, controls, electric machines, power electronics, batteries and vessel monitoring systems makes this agreement the highest value vessel sale in HamiltonJet’s history. This work adds to our success with EV Maritime and Green City Ferries, proving that waterjets are the most efficient and sensible all-round choice for electrified vessels across the globe.

Source: https://www.maritimeeconomy.com/post-details.php?post_id=Z25raA==&post_name=HamiltonJet%20has%20%20have%20signed%20an%20agreement%20with%20Auckland%20Transport%20for%20the%20delivery%20of%20the%20first%20of%20five%20hybridelectric%20propulsion%20systems.%20&segment_name=30

INCHEON — When a button was pressed on a control tablet, the 9-meter (29-foot) Quicksilver coolly plied the waters off of Yeongjong Island with nary a helmsman at the wheel.

The boat was its own skipper.

Equipped with Avikus autonomous navigation technology, the boat left the dock at Wangsan Marina, Incheon, did a wide loop in the calm shallows of the Yellow Sea and returned to the other side of the dock and docked itself.

Avikus, subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries specializing in autonomous navigation technology, was holding a demonstration of its first fully autonomous leisure boat.

“If you mark the destination on an electronic chart, the boat automatically finds the optimal route and begins navigation accordingly,” said Lee Jun-sik, recreational boat solution team leader at Avikus. “It’s like entering a destination into Tesla’s navigation system and driving in autonomous driving mode.”

When Lee entered a route around the Wangsan Marina dock on a tablet, the optimal route immediately appeared on the screen. The screen blinked information about the route, telling passengers that the entire ride would be 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles). A passenger volunteered to press the “Start Autonomous Mode” button on the tablet, and the boat left the dock and set off.

There was no one sitting in the captain’s seat, but the boat sailed smoothly. Lee explained that the boat was equipped with six surround cameras, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and augmented reality technology.

“We’ve input more than 150,000 images into the boat’s data system,” Lee said. “This allows the boat to recognize any obstacles or other vehicles that may approach during the ride.”

Five minutes into sailing, when another boat approached the Avikus, it turned sideways to avoid collision, correcting its course. Passengers could see the modified route on the tablet in real time.

This system, called the Hyundai Intelligent Navigation Assistant System (HiNAS), was developed by Avikus in April last year. So far, six boats equipped with HiNAS have been delivered from Hyundai Heavy Industries to various countries, while an additional order of 70 ships have been received this year.

The boat reached a speed of 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour) and sailed around the Wangsan Marina dock. Passengers could see a full 180-degree view of the boat’s path through two side screens attached at the left and right side walls in the inside of the boat. The speed of the boat could also be controlled through the tablet. Lee pressed hit a “plus” sign on the tablet, and the boat sped up to 7 knots (13 kilometers per hour).

After a full circle around Wangsan Marina that took about 20 minutes, the boat slowed down and began its way back into the dock.

“This boat has better docking skills than I do,” Lee commented, who holds a piloting license, as the boat made its final course.

“By using autonomous navigational technology in leisure boats, users can greatly reduce the time required for berthing and unberthing as well as the risk of accidents during operation,” said Lim Do-hyeong, CEO of Avikus, in a press conference afterwards. “There is no other company in the shipping industry that is developing autonomous unmanned ships like we are.”

Avikus has sold 210 Level-1 autonomous boats so far, the most of any company. Autonomous boats are divided into four levels by the International Maritime Organization depending on how autonomous they are. Level-2 boats only require human assistance in emergency situations. Level 3 allows for remote control of boats. Level 4 boats do not require human intervention.

Avikus plans to take part in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida this October to showcase its Level 2 autonomous boats. Lim announced that Avikus is planning to market Level 2 autonomous boats by the first half of next year.

The captain’s seat is left empty on a leisure boat equipped with autonomous navigation technology. [AVIKUS]

Avikus and Hyundai Heavy Industries are developing technology for leisure boats because the commercial market is not big enough. Only about 500 high value-added vessels, such as LNG ships and eco-friendly carriers, are ordered every year. Even if Avikus manages to sell their autonomous navigation technology to all 500 ships, the volume is too small.

“In comparison, the market for leisure ships is much bigger and has a lot of potential,” said Lim. “There are about 10 million leisure boats worldwide. Those who own leisure boats are affluent and tend to be open to new technologies. This is a good target for us.”

Avikus was found by Hyundai Heavy Industries in December 2020 to help advance and deepen technologies and expertise related to autonomous ships.

“There is still a long way to go for the development of autonomous ships,” said Lim. “And naval officers won’t disappear even if autonomous ships are commercialized. It has been 20 years since autonomous driving technology came out, but we still have taxi drivers. It will be the same for autonomous ships.”

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]

The world’s first fully electric and zero-emission fast ferry, classed as a high-speed craft, recently completed construction and is being delivered to its new homeport in Stavanger, Norway. After final trials, the vessel, MS Medstraum, is scheduled to begin regular commuter service in Norway as a further demonstration of the future electric ferries.

The vessel was built using a unique modular manufacturing method at the Norwegian shipyard, Fjellstrand. According to the shipyard, modularisation helped to cut both production costs and engineering costs and will contribute to making electric-powered high-speed vessels competitive in terms of both cost and the environment.

“It’s been challenging building this ship, as it’s never been done before, but we’ve learned a lot. Fast ferries require a lot of energy so we needed to make Medstraum lighter and a lot more efficient than traditional fast ferries,” said Edmund Tolo, head of research and development at Fjellstrand AS.

The Medstraum is approximately 260 gross tons. The vessel is approximately 98 feet long with a capacity up to 147 passengers and operated by a crew of three. It will sail a regular service between Stavanger, Byøyene, and Hommersåk in Norway for Kolumbus. The typical schedule is for sailings lasting between 35 and 40 minutes.

“It is revolutionary that a vessel of this size can operate at 23 knots for an entire hour by electricity alone,” said Tolo. The shipyard reports that the vessel achieved a maximum speed of 27 knots. The catamaran has two electric 550 kW motors and a 1524 kWh battery capacity with charging power of 2.3 MW.

Fjellstrand shipyard in Hardanger, Norway notes that the world’s first fully-electric ferry, Ampere, was built just seven years ago in 2015. They estimate that there are now approximately 70 emission-free ferries operating in Norway, but this is the first to be classed as a high-speed craft.

“Not only have the project partners developed and demonstrated a new and emission-free propulsion system that can maintain higher speeds than before, but we have also adopted a completely new modular design and construction methods that will revolutionize the way we build boats in the future,” said Hege Økland, CEO of Maritime CleanTech, the cluster organization that initiated and established the EU-funded TrAM-project, which resulted in Medstraum.

“We are very happy to finally get this flagship delivered,” said Mikal Dahle Project Manager at Kolumbus. The company which currently has ten conventional fast ferries, estimates the Medstraum will cut its emissions by 1,500 tons a year, despite operating on its least energy-demanding route.

The project to develop the fast ferry involved a broad coalition of companies located in Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands and also involved both the University at Strathclyde in Great Britain as well as the National Technical University in Athens. The Medstraum was classed by DNV.

The vessel cost approximately $11 million to build with 50 percent of the cost underwritten by the European Union as a demonstration project.

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/world-s-first-electric-fast-ferry-is-ready-to-enter-service