Maritime surpasses 1,000 battery-powered vessel milestone

DNV Maritime segment director for OSVs and special ships, Arnstein Eknes, said reaching the 1,000-vessel target was an important achievement as batteries and electrification enable the maritime industry to become more energy efficient and cut emissions.

He was speaking at Riviera’s Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference, Awards & Exhibition, which was held in London on 4-5 February 2025.

Owners and operators benefit from using electric-powered vessels, but need shore power to recharge onboard batteries. Therefore, Mr Eknes thinks vessels should be prepared to use alternative fuels in dual-fuel engines or generators to provide operational and commercial flexibility.

“From a flexibility point of view, it makes sense to be hybrid,” he said.

In the offshore sector, all newbuilds ordered to support windfarms will have hybrid propulsion as a minimum, while most vessels operating today with batteries on board in the offshore oil and gas industry have been retrofitted through conversions.