Zero-emission, autonomous ships: vital links in the sustainable logistics chain

In a year marked by unprecedented events, Norway’s Yara International took delivery in November of the world’s first autonomous container vessel, the fully electric-powered, zero-emissions Yara Birkeland, from Norwegian shipyard Vard Brattvåg.

Expectations are running high around the relatively small 120-TEU feeder vessel, which will have to undergo testing for container loading and stability, before the ship will sail to a port and test area in Horten, Norway for further preparations for autonomous operation. Successful operation and lessons learned from the project could lay the groundwork for future autonomous vessel operations.

Before it obtains autonomous operation, Yara Birkeland will have go through three phases. In Phase 1, it will operate with a crew onboard, monitored by a command centre in Oslo. In Phase 2, the vessel will be remote controlled by Massterly, a 50-50 joint venture between Kongsberg and Wilhelmsen. Finally, in Phase 3, Yara Birkeland will become fully autonomous.

Yara technology partner Kongsberg Maritime developed the sensors and integration required for remote and autonomous ship operations – radar, lidar, AIS, cameras and IR cameras – in addition to the electric drive, battery and propulsion control systems.

Designed by Marin Teknikk with an overall length of 80 m, beam of 14.8 m and draught of 6 m, Yara Birkeland will be propelled by electric motors driving two 900-kW Brunvoll PU74 azimuth pulling thrusters and two 700-kW Brunvoll FU63 tunnel thrusters. The electric motors will draw on battery power from a 6.7-MWh Leclanché battery pack – one of the largest in the world – to drive the coastal container vessel to a service speed of 6 knots, with a maximum speed of 10 knots.

In May, Yara had paused construction of the vessel due to Covid-19 and the downturn in shipping. It had earlier hoped to commence operations with the zero-emissions container vessel in 2020, fitted with a detachable navigation bridge for crewed operations. When the vessel is ready for autonomous operation in Phase 3 in 2022, this module will be removed.

Among its ‘smart’ technologies will be the vessel’s navigation lighting system, supplied by Norway’s R. Stahl Transberg. These ‘plug and play’, LED Transberg BlueLine Navigation lights and searchlight have minimum maintenance and power requirements, providing onshore controllers improved understanding of situational awareness onboard and in the area of operation.

Proving particularly challenging is not the vessel itself but the landside autonomous logistics. Yara Birkeland will be equipped with an automated mooring system developed by MacGregor and loading and discharging will be done using electric cranes and equipment.

Transporting fertilser from Yara’s Porsgrunn plant via inland waters 31 nautical miles to the Norwegian ports of Larvik and Brevik, Yara Birkeland will reduce emissions and improve road safety by removing up to 40,000 truck journeys annually in a densely populated area of Norway.

“We are one step closer to our goal of enabling sustainable trade”

Such disruptive technology from a fertilizer company might be unexpected, but Yara Birkeland is an example of Yara’s ambition “to innovate and find climate-friendly solutions which can be commercialized,” said the company in a release. Production, transportation and use of mineral fertilizers contribute directly and indirectly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, CO₂ and NOx.

Besides aiming to align its GHG emissions with the Paris agreement, Yara has joined with five other companies in an initiative called the Green Hydrogen Catapult. The six partners want to expand production of green hydrogen by 50-fold and bring down its cost to US$2/kg by 2026. If the world is to succeed in decarbonisation, green hydrogen in scale will be needed to supplant carbon-intensive fuels in power, industrial and transportation applications – including the maritime sector.