Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the largest commercial shipbuilder in India, yesterday signed contracts for construction and supply of two Autonomous Electric Ferry for ASKO Maritime AS, Norway with an option to build two more identical vessels.
This project for Autonomous Electric vessels partially funded by the Norwegian Government will ensure emission-free transport of goods across the Oslo fjord.
These vessels will be managed by M/s. Massterly AS, the first company setup to take technical management and operate autonomous vessels, a joint venture between M/s. Kongsberg, the world leader in autonomous technology and M/s. Wilhelmsen. Once in operation, this vessel will create a new bench mark for the merchant shipping world in the field of Autonomous Vessels with Zero Carbon Emission.
The 67 Mtr long autonomous electric vessels powered by 1846 kWh capacity battery will initially be delivered as a Full-Electric Transport Ferry. Amid the commissioning of autonomous equipment and field trials in Norway, the vessels will operate as a fully autonomous ferry of ASKO that can transport 16 fully loaded Standard EU trailers in one go across the fjords.
The Vessels which are designed by Naval Dynamics Norway using Kongsberg Maritime systems with detailed engineering to be carried out by CSL, will be built under DNV GL Classification and flagged in Norway.
CSL won this export order after detailed evaluation of various global shipyards and based on its value proposition to the customer. This project is expected to catapult CSL into the league of premier Shipbuilding yards in the world capable of handling high tech vessel construction.
The company is already constructing 23 Hybrid Electric boats for the Kochi Water Metro.
Source: Cochin Shipyard Limited