Technology company ABB will delivery electric power and propulsion solutions for South Korea’s first domestic zero-emission ferry service.
ABB has secured a contract with Haemin Heavy Industries shipyard to deliver an electric twin-hulled ferry for Busan Port Authority.
Replacing some 140 state-owned conventionally-powered vessels, the all-electric catamaran ferry can carry up to 100 passengers and five crew members.
It will operate at an average speed of 13 knots (24km/h) and take an hour to complete a journey between Busan’s North and South ports.
The ferry will be powered by two 1,068-kWh battery packs to provide a clean and flexible energy source for the ferry’s journeys.
According to ABB, the batteries will provide enough power for the ferry to complete up to four return journeys before charging from shore during the vessel’s overnight stops.
Furthermore, the vessel’s onboard DC grid power distribution system has been designed to ensure that the battery output is delivered to the vessel’s subsystems in the most optimal way.
ABB said its power and energy management system will control overall power distribution, increase fault tolerance and provide a high degree of reliability.
Juha Koskela, division president, ABB Marine and Ports, said: “Our agreement with Haemin represents a major advance in the local market, supporting South Korea’s plans for sustainable shipping, as part of our strategy for reducing global vessel emissions.
“Sustainability is a key part of the value that we create for all of our stakeholders and the new partnership with Haemin is an example of how we enable a low-carbon society and help preserve resources.”
The electric ferries are part of South Korea’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, set out in the country’s Green New Deal announced in 2020.
