Oslo Fjord News

Partners behind a project to develop the world’s first ammonia-powered containership have placed an order to build the groundbreaking vessel at Qingdao Yangfan Shipbuilding, in China.Expected to be delivered by mid-2026, the 1,400 TEU ice-class containership Yara Eyde will run on ammonia as fuel, serving routes between Norway and Germany.The vessel will be owned by Delphis, the container division of CMB.TECH, and operated by NCL Oslofjord AS, a joint venture between North Sea…

Yara Clean Ammonia, North Sea Container Line, and Yara International have joined forces to realize the world's first container ship that will use clean ammonia as fuel. Named Yara Eyde, the vessel will be the first to sail emission-free sea route between Norway and Germany.Yara Eyde will operate between Oslo, Porsgrunn, Hamburg and Bremerhaven, so that from 2026, Norwegian companies can trade their products emissions-free in and out of Norway. Yara International is participating as cargo-owner.

A new containership planned for operations in Europe is set to become the world's first to use pure ammonia as fuel.Yara Clean Ammonia and NorthSea Container Line are establishing a joint venture, NCL Oslofjord, to operate the ammonia-powered ship Yara Eyde on routes between Norway and Germany from 2026.The project has been awarded just over NOK 40 million (US$3.6 million) from Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting clean energy technologies.Ammonia is one of several alternative fuels gaining traction in commercial shipping to help cut emissions.

ABB has won a contract to deliver a power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships for Rotterdam-based global logistics company Samskip Group.According to ABB, the vessels will be among the world’s first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Built by India-based Cochin Shipyard, the 135-meter ships are due for delivery in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively. Both vessels will be operating between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, a distance of approximately 700 nautical miles.

The Norwegian government is providing financial support for the construction of three cargo ships that will run emissions-free along the Norwegian coast.Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting the use of clean energy, said it is providing NOK 130 million to Skarv Shipping Solutions AS for the acquisition of three cargo ships that will run on batteries, ammonia engines, rotor sails and energy-saving hull design. The vessels will potentially have a 90% reduction in emissions compared to similar traditional ships."Enova supports those who go ahead.

Furetank turned a former office building into a maritime educational center on Donsö outside Gothenburg: a state-of-the-art ship simulator complex for training, assessment and certification. Starting in the summer of 2023 it will be available for the shipping cluster on Donsö as well as external organizations.Furetank has ordered a large range of new-built vessels to be delivered in the coming years, and crewing these ships is a challenge. The new simulator center is seen as helping to alleviate some training bottlenecks…

Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO announced its two new full-electric, self-driving vessels have been christened.The battery-electric powered RoRo cargo ferries, named Marit and Therese, will cross the Oslo Fjord daily between Moss and Horten, mainly carrying groceries for NorgesGruppen's chains.The groundbreaking vessels, which were designed by Norwegian firm Naval Dynamics and built at Cochin Shipyard in India, are equipped with technology from Kongsberg Maritime enabling completely…

Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA has awarded NOK150 million (€15M) in funding for SeaShuttle, a project for the construction of two hydrogen-powered, remotely controlled, and autonomous-ready containerships for delivery by 2025.The project, led by multimodal transport and logistics group Samskip and marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity, envisages two SeaShuttle ships operating emissions-free between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, with each powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.The…

Yara Birkeland, the world's first electric and self-propelled container ship has set off for its maiden voyage in the Oslo fjord in Norway.No Friday, today, the Norwegian Prime Minister was given a tour by the CEO of Yara, Svein Tore Holsether.Holsether said: "We are proud to be able to showcase the world's first fully electric and self-propelled container ship. It will cut 1,000 tonnes of CO2 and replace 40,000 trips by diesel-powered trucks a year."Friday morning, Holsether welcomed Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Skjæran on Yara Birkeland…

The past decade has seen tight restrictions on emissions from vessels, notably with a 2015 move to a .10% sulfur maximum in Emission Control Areas (ECA) in North America and in northern Europe. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) now shapes shipping’s decarbonization future, shipowners are looking at transitions away from fossil fuels. Among the myriad of alternatives are lithium ion batteries and some early forays into hydrogen fuel cells.To date, large batteries are used on short runs…

There is  increasing pressure for shipowners to sharpen their environmental performance, driven by an IMO target to halve greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050, regional regulations and market pull from charterers, banks and investors.“This represents a whole new ball game for the industry. Optimization of ship operations has traditionally been dictated by the efficiency of delivery around the globe that has typically meant being able to sail at full speed, thereby burning more fuel, to minimize costs for the charterer.

German propulsion systems manufacturer SCHOTTEL said it has been awarded a contract to deliver SCHOTTEL EcoPellers and PumpJets for two new autonomous RoRo ships. They will be operated by ASKO Maritime AS, Norway’s largest grocery wholesaler, and built at Cochin Shipyard (CSL) in India. Both vessels will have full battery-electric propulsion and are designed for transporting trailers across Oslo Fjord between two of ASKO’s distribution centers.Kai Just Olsen, Director of ASKO Maritime…

Turkish boat builder Sefine Shipyard has won a contract to supply Norwegian operator Boreal with five electric ferries – each supported by two Volvo Penta D13 MG IMO III generator sets (gensets). The ferries will operate to-and-from the islands in the inner Oslo fjord and run scheduled services throughout the day. The Multi Maritime-designed vessels will each have a length of 35 meters, a beam of eight meters, and two passenger decks capable of accommodating up to 350 people.The ferries will be built under DNV-GL classification regulations.

A next generation automated vacuum mooring solution from Cavotec is designed to reduce fuel consumption and increase port productivity by simplifying and accelerating the mooring process. Cavotec, a Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of connection and electrification solutions for the maritime industry, on Tuesday launched its MoorMaster NxG with the goal to “revolutionize the way ships enter and leave ports,” enabling ships to dock in as little as 30 seconds.Mikael Norin, Cavotec CEO…

Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly (a Kongsberg Wilhelmsen joint venture) have signed contracts with the Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO to equip two new all-electric vessels with autonomous technology, and to manage their operations at sea.ASKO, which currently transports its cargo by more than 800 trucks daily, is investing heavily in environmentally friendly technologies such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. At present, road transport is the single mode of transportation…

The world’s first adaptive ferry transit conducted during normal service took place last week on a vessel fully loaded with passengers and vehicles, demonstrated fully automatic control from dock to dock, Kongsberg Maritime  announced. The landmark crossing, a key step forward in the integration of autonomous technology into everyday shipping operations, was made possible by collaboration between shipping company Bastø Fosen, KONGSBERG and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA).The…

With a rugged coastline and many fjords to cross, Norway has become a world leader in progressive ferry design. Turkey, with a skilled work force and broad marine experience has become a leader in ferry construction. Put the two together and you have the teamwork that results in the Basto series of RO-RO ferries.The latest in the class, Basto VII, to be launched in December of 2019, will have at its heart, four Cummins QSK50 IMO Tier III diesel-powered generator sets, two in each end and each producing 1290 kWm.

Norway's leading cargo and ferry port, the Port of Oslo has placed an order to build one of the world’s most environmental efficient working boats possible, with Grovfjord Ship Yard.The boat is especially designed for efficient collection of waste at the water surface. The contract sum is NOK 23 million. Expected delivery is December 2019.Norway's shipbuilding and maintenance services has previously built the world's first full-electric fish farming boat."Today the boat "Pelikan" keeps our harbor area clean and tidy. The new environmental boat replaces the old port environmental boat, which during the course of 30 years has picked up about 1…

A new range of hooks from Henriksen AS introduces a significant level of safety for crews engaged in towing small to medium-sized vessels and loads. The new towing hook has been designed for users at the lighter end of the towing spectrum and it is available in three versions for use with loads from ten, five and two a half tonnes. Each model is certified as being capable of towing loads up to six times greater than its designated strength which makes it an important asset for any working vessel that is routinely engaged in towing operations. The first sale has been made to a fish farm on the west coast of Norway where the movement of feed barges is a regular part of daily activity.

Norwegian ferry Bastø Fosen I is the first vessel commissioned with a globally certified International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III compliant marine engine that does not need urea based after treatment. The completely refurbished and repowered Bastø Fosen I has been equipped with GE’s Marine Solutions 16V250MDC, a 16 cylinder 250 mm bore marine diesel engine that is certified to meet both IMO Tier III and EPA Tier 4 emission standards, reducing key emissions by more than 70 percent, according to the engine manufacturer.

The Scandinavian arm of the world’s third largest container shipping company CMA CGM has signed an agency, husbandry and NOx reporting agreement with GAC Norway for its ships calling at the port of Oslo. The CMA CGM Group has a fleet of 470 vessels serving 400 of the world's 521 commercial ports. In 2015, it transported an estimated volume of 13 million TEUs and vessels from its fleet make 52 calls per annum to Oslo to load/discharge a wide range of goods carried in containers from around the world. Its weekly service links the Scandinavian ports of Oslo, Moss, Brevik and Gothenburg with the CMA CGM hub in Rotterdam, and beyond to its global network.

Deal to provide agency, husbandry and NOx reporting at Oslo. The Scandinavian arm of the world’s third largest container shipping company CMA CGM has signed an agency, husbandry and NOx reporting agreement with GAC Norway for its ships calling at the port of Oslo. The CMA CGM Group has a fleet of 470 vessels serving 400 of the world's 521 commercial ports. In 2015, it transported an estimated volume of 13 million TEUs and vessels from its fleet make 52 calls per annum to Oslo to load/discharge a wide range of goods carried in containers from around the world. Its weekly service links the Scandinavian ports of Oslo, Moss, Brevik and Gothenburg with the CMA CGM hub in Rotterdam, and beyond to its global network.

H Henriksen of Norway has received SOLAS certification for a new off-load single-point boat lifting hook capable of holding up to 22.5-tonnes. The quick release hook has been developed principally for use with heavy workboats while a smaller hook has received SOLAS certification for 8-tonnes, making it ideal for the deployment of emergency rescue boats and heavy duty rigid inflatable boats. The new Henriksen hooks have been developed to include a pivot mechanism so that they can perform to their full load capacity even when the boat is at an angle to the lifting cable. It has been recognised that in rough sea conditions lateral loads can impose significant strains upon a hook so the specially designed swivel featured in the new models enables them to accept a load from any direction.