Eitzen Avanti To Build World’s Largest Battery-Powered Containerships

Image Credits: Naval Dynamics
Norwegian company Eitzen Avanti is set to build the world’s largest battery-powered containerships after receiving funding from Enova, the Norwegian government’s climate-focused innovation agency.

The two new electric boxships will operate on routes between Norway, Sweden, and Germany, carrying up to 850 containers each with zero emissions.

According to Enova, Eitzen Avanti will receive NOK 200 million (about $20.2 million) to support the construction of the vessels. Each ship will be fitted with battery packs exceeding 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity, making them the largest of their kind globally.

These vessels are part of a Enova’s larger funding round, which is investing a total of NOK 362 million ($36.6 million) into various green shipping projects. In total, these projects are expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 20,800 tonnes.

A new charging station for the containerships will also be built at the Sjursøya container terminal in the Port of Oslo. For this, the port is receiving NOK 20.6 million in Enova support.

The Oslo Port Authority described this move as an important step towards becoming the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly urban port.

Eitzen Avanti, part of the Eitzen Group, was among several chosen for support in what Enova called a major step toward maritime electrification. Enova’s senior maritime advisor, Andreas Forsnes Jahn, said these projects show that battery-powered shipping is now well developed. He added that while car ferries led the first wave of electrification, these new shortsea cargo ships mark the start of a second, greener wave.

The latest round of Enova funding is also supporting a variety of other vessels. This includes a fully electric bulk carrier for Polar Energy Shipco, which will transport minerals along the Norwegian coast using rotor sails and battery systems over 20 MWh.

Tourism operator Brim Explorer is receiving funds to build two battery-powered ferries designed with multiple energy-saving features. These will operate between Ålesund and Geiranger with battery capacities of around 3 MWh.

Additionally, fish farming company Lovundlaks will get support for two electric workboats and corresponding charging stations at its coastal facilities.

GC Rieber Minerals is also among the beneficiaries and will receive aid for building a vessel charging facility at Laksevågneset near Bergen.

References: shippingtelegraph, rivieramm