Yara Birkeland, world’s 1st fully electric autonomous containership, marks 3 years in service

Yara Birkeland, the world’s first fully electric and autonomous container vessel, is celebrating three years of service.

Three years ago, in the spring of 2022, the 3,200 dwt eco-friendly vessel was put into commercial operation in Portsgrunn.

Operated by Norwegian chemical company Yara International, the vessel is said to have played a key role in revolutionizing maritime transport and setting new industry standards for sustainability and efficiency.

The innovative ship was developed in collaboration with the Kongsberg Group and built by Vard with financial support from the Norwegian state enterprise Enova.

Since its launch in 2021, the Yara Birkeland has demonstrated the potential of zero-emission shipping. The vessel is equipped with Leclanché’s MRS-2 marine rack system. The 6.8 MWh battery system enables the vessel to operate entirely without fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting operational costs.

Over the past three years, the 80-meter-long and 15-meter-wide Yara Birkeland has completed more than 250 voyages, transporting over