The Gothenburg Port Authority has announced that it will convert the M/S HAMNEN into an electric powered ship.
The engine room will undergo a total transformation as M/S HAMNEN’s existing diesel engine will be replaced by a totally new electric engine with a 250 kilowatt output.
A four to five tonne bank of 520 kilowatt hour batteries will also be installed, supplemented by additional battery capacity in the future if required.
“In exceptional cases, special callouts, unforeseen events or extreme weather conditions may require additional range, so we’re also installing an auxiliary diesel engine that runs on HVO,” said David Falk, skipper of M/S HAMNEN and project manager of the electrification project.
“The vessel’s task is to be available in all contexts 24/7, so we need that flexibility. But the goal is to run on battery power for 90 per cent of the time.”
M/S HAMNEN’s regular berth position in the Port of Gothenburg will be fitted with a 63-amp charger, which is sufficient for charging between regular assignments.
M/S HAMNEN will be taken to the Ö-varvet shipyard on the island of Öckerö in the Gothenburg archipelago during the spring, and will return to service in the autumn.
In the meantime, Falk and the rest of the ship crew will be using a smaller replacement boat to perform their inspection assignment.
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This vessel has operated at the Port of Gothenburg around the clock as an inspection vessel since 1979.
At present, M/S HAMNEN is in operation for around 1,200 hours a year, consuming approximately 25,000 litres of diesel. This represents 67 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is 15 per cent of the Gothenburg Port Authority’s total emissions.
It was deemed unnecessary to completely replace the M/S HAMNEN according to Falk who cited the vessel’s versatility.
“M/S HAMNEN is in really good condition, and there’s no other vessel that’s better suited to its assignment. By converting it rather than replacing it, we further reduce emissions, as the vessel will then not be taken into use by a new owner,” said Falk.
This announcement comes in the same month that APM Terminals Gothenburg introduced a new priority solution for electrified truck transport which will be implemented on 1 March.
