Battery Systems News

As lithium-ion batteries continue to make their way into the marine space whether through vessel systems, transported electric vehicles, or everyday devices onboard we are starting to see a different type of fire loss than most of us have traditionally dealt with.These events are not necessarily more frequent, but when they occur, they tend to be severe. In many cases, they result in prolonged fires or even total loss of a vessel or cargo. That aligns with broader industry findings that fires remain one of the costliest drivers of marine insurance losses…

Sea1 Offshore has launched the Sea1 Diamond, the first vessel in a series of four offshore energy support vessels under construction at COSCO Shipping.The float-out marks a key milestone in Sea1 Offshore's newbuild program, with the company describing the vessel as the start of a new chapter for its fleet.Sea1 Diamond is the first of four offshore energy support vessels ordered from the Chinese shipyard. The initial two vessels were contracted in November 2024, followed by two additional units in March 2025 as Sea1 expanded the program.Based on the ST-245 design…

The Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) has welcomed Arc, a U.S.-based marine technology company developing integrated electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, as the newest member of its global community of maritime battery enablers. Arc designs its battery systems, powertrain, thermal management systems, and software in-house, creating a fully integrated electric propulsion platform. Their vertically integrated approach allows the company to optimize every aspect of vessel performance, from battery management and propulsion control to software and thermal systems.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has unveiled what it says is the world's first spray-based immersion cooling technology for lithium-ion battery packs, a development that could improve thermal management and fire safety while dramatically reducing the amount of dielectric coolant required.Developed by a research team led by Dr. Jinsub Kim at KIMM's Heat Pump Research Center, the system combines two cooling approaches: dielectric liquid is sprayed directly…

Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works has selected Echandia to supply battery systems for two fully electric tugs within India’s Green Tug Transition Program. The vessels will operate at Visakhapatnam Port Authority and V.O.C Port Authority in Tuticorin. The order marks the first Indian deployment of the recently launched Echandia Core battery system. Both battery systems are designed for a 15-year service life, matching the full concession period of the vessels. This removes the need for a planned mid-life battery replacement and avoids the associated cost…

Vessel electrification is no longer a future concept for offshore wind and policy and regulatory alignment is now the main barrier to uptake, a cross-industry panel hosted by Bibby Marine told an audience during Global Offshore Wind on Wednesday.Speakers from RenewableUK, Corvus Energy, Stillstrom, Tidal Transit and Kongsberg Maritime said rapid progress in vessel and charging technology means electrified vessels now represent an increasingly credible commercial proposition. They…

Norwegian maritime technology company Nereida Energy has raised $3.3 million (NOK 32 million) through a private placement of shares backed by a group of industrial and financial investors, including Grieg, Eviny, Nysnø and Nye Aasen.The company, which develops battery and energy storage solutions for vessels ranging from ferries and service vessels to offshore ships and wellboats, said the proceeds will be used to strengthen its organization, advance product development and support strategic growth initiatives.Founded in 2025 by a team of maritime electrification specialists…

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) fully automated operations at the Port of Melbourne, Australia, has deployed four new Kalmar hybrid automatic container carriers (ACC) following their successful commissioning and operational integration over the past several weeks.Kalmar executives attended the handover ceremony on May 26, including Sami Niiranen, president and chief executive officer, alongside VICT management…

Fleetzero, a U.S.-based developer of marine technology, has announced a collaboration with Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, a leading U.S. shipbuilder, and Glosten, a Seattle-based global naval architecture and marine engineering firm, to accelerate the development and deployment of integrated autonomous vessel solutions for commercial maritime, government, and defense customers.The partnership brings together Fleetzero's Leviathan™ Battery Energy Storage System, propulsion technologies…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has signed a contract with research organization Inkfish for the design and construction of a deep-sea research vessel based on the VARD 9 42 design, in a deal valued at nearly $810 million (€700 million).The company said the contract is the largest order ever secured by Vard for a single vessel and the largest order of its kind for a Norwegian shipyard.The vessel, known as RV11000 during the project phase, will be 162 meters long with a beam of 28 meters.

Michael Carter and Steven Henderson grew up together in North Carolina, attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) together, and most recently jointly founded Fleet Zero, a company aiming to develop modular, containerized battery technology for electrifying cargo ships. As of the interview, the company has raised about $60 million in funding, it employs 40 people, it recently opened a new manufacturing/R&D facility in Houston where it is targeting to produce 300 MW hours of batteries this year.There’s a familiar narrative in maritime: an industry steeped in tradition…

Belgian offshore contractor DEME has officially named its new jack-up offshore transport and installation vessel, Norse Energi, strengthening its offshore wind installation fleet alongside sister vessel Norse Wind.Norse Energi wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) is soon expected to begin operations in the Baltic Sea and North Sea.The initial assignments include Iberdrola’s Windanker offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea from June 2026 and Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 project in…

Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy said the transition to electric-powered workboats is accelerating as a battery-methanol harbor tug completed sea trials ahead of delivery.The Svitzer Balder, built by Türkiye’s Uzmar shipyard, is described by the company as the most powerful electric escort tug, capable of operating in near-open ocean conditions as well as in harbor.The vessel is set to be delivered to the Port of Gothenburg in Sweden, where it is expected to carry out more…

RINA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Hanwha Group to promote the adoption of battery-hybrid propulsion systems in the maritime sector.The agreement involves Hanwha affiliates Hanwha Power Systems, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Engine, and targets the development of hybrid propulsion solutions for both newbuild vessels and retrofits, with a focus on the roll-on/roll-off ferry segment.The partners said the collaboration aims to accelerate the transition to lower-emission vessels by combining Hanwha’s expertise in propulsion…

Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2026 kicked off today to a record-breaking turnout, with its largest-ever edition occupying 6 exhibition halls across 2 levels at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Bringing together 819 exhibitors, including 20 international pavilions, the 19th edition sets the stage for three days of industry dialogue, innovation & tech breakthroughs in maritime collaboration, under the theme “Future of Vessels, Solutions for Tomorrow”.Navigating…

At first glance, the Iran war appears to be hitting oil and gas with equal force, as missiles, drone strikes and shipping disruptions choke flows through the Strait of Hormuz.But beneath that surface symmetry lies a critical imbalance. The global gas supply chain has fewer rerouting options and less storage capacity than the oil market - making the fallout for gas consumers considerably more acute.Key gas infrastructure - liquefaction plants in particular - is more complex and expensive to build and repair than the oil equivalent.

Scandlines has put its new ferry, The Baltic Whale, into service on the Rødby-Puttgarden route from Denmark to Germany.The ferry marks an important step towards the company’s long-term goal of sailing without direct emissions by 2040 and strengthening capacity for freight customers. The Baltic Whale is among the world’s largest ferries that can operate solely on shore-based electricity.The Baltic Whale has one of the world's largest battery systems on board a ferry and can operate without direct emissions during normal operation.

The transition towards digitalisation and automation is speeding up in the maritime industry, and a comprehensive strategy is emerging to turbo-charge efficiency, safety and sustainability. Yet key questions remain about the adoption of technologies and solutions to enhance operational performance, future-proof fleets while remaining commercially competitive, and ultimately realise the zero-emission goal. At Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2026, held from 25–27 March 2026 at Marina Bay Sands…

Tourism and technology company Brim Explorer has signed contracts for the construction of two efficient, battery-powered passenger vessels. The high-speed trimarans are scheduled for delivery in spring 2027.The two new trimarans have been developed by Brim Tech, Brim Explorer's in-house technology division, following the principle of "electric by design." This means the vessels are engineered from the ground up for electric propulsion, not converted from fossil-fuel solutions.With a range of 100 nautical miles (nearly 200 km) at 20 knots without recharging…

Lehmann Marine is contributing to the Port of Hamburg's transition towards sustainability by supplying the battery systems for three new, fully electric passenger ferries. This project represents the largest order in the company’s history. Built by SET Schiffbau- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Tangermünde mbH on behalf of HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG, the vessels will be deployed in the Port of Hamburg as HADAG’s first purely electrically propelled ferries. The core component of the new Type 2030e ferries is Lehmann Marine’s modular CUBE energy storage system.

Finnish marine power electronics specialist’s new Electronic Current Limiter (ECL) enables batteries to connect directly to DC systems while preserving ride-through and system stability.The Switch has expanded its portfolio of DC protection technologies with the ECL to address a growing challenge in modern hybrid and electric vessels: how faults in large battery systems can affect the rest of the ship. As batteries play a larger role in vessel propulsion, power generation and energy storage, a fault on the battery side is no longer a local issue.

Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), Asia’s premier exhibition and conference for Shipbuilding & Marine, Workboat, Offshore, and Electric & Hybrid Marine, will return for its 19th instalment, from 25-27 March 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, with its largest edition to date. Anchored by the theme “Future of Vessels, Solutions for Tomorrow”, APM 2026 is set to convene the global leaders to examine how the next energy technologies and innovation are driving the future of maritime.As decarbonisation targets intensify and digital innovation accelerates…

A study led by Vard, a subsidiary of Italy’s Fincantieri, has found that nuclear-powered offshore vessels are technically feasible, confirming that small fourth-generation nuclear reactors can be integrated into dynamically positioned vessels while meeting safety, redundancy and operational requirements.Results from the NuProShip II research and innovation project show that nuclear propulsion can support DP2 power architectures, with potential adaptability to DP3 standards, offering…