Singapore’s first electric cargo vessel is scheduled to begin trials and launch in the fourth quarter, according to Yinson Green Technologies (YGT), a part of a consortium chosen by the country to support the electrification of marine craft.
The Hydromover, developed by the Goal Zero consortium, is near completion, said YGT’s Chief Executive, Eirik Barclay.
YGT will introduce an electric crew transfer vessel by the end of 2023, called the Hydroglyder, which is developed in collaboration with Norwegian start-up Lift Ocean, he said.
As the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore requires all harbor craft to be fully electric or capable of running on B100 biofuels or net zero fuels from 2030, oil giant Shell launched Singapore’s first fully electric passenger ferry in May to transport workers to its refinery in Pulau Bukom.
The Goal Zero consortium is led by Singapore-based SeaTech Solutions International, the designer of the Hydromover. This vessel has a capacity to carry 25 tonnes of cargo and a battery that can be swopped in minutes when depleted.
YGT will operate the harbor vessel for commercial operations under its recently launched MarinEV unit, which offers vessel leasing, servicing, maintenance and products to assit the maritime industry’s transition to net zero.
In 2021, Singapore provided $9 million to fund Goal Zero and two other consortiums led by Keppel Fels and Seatrium to develop electric vessels. Keppel aims to establish an electric vessel supply chain by 2025.
