GC Rieber gets government grant for fully electric vessel

Norwegian shipping company GC Rieber Shipping, through its subsidiary Polar Energy Shipco, has secured funding from the state-owned enterprise Enova to construct a fully electric freight carrier.

IMAGE: Illustration of GC Rieber Shipping’s fully electric freight carrier. GC Rieber Shipping

Although the immediate impact that this small-scale electric vessel will have on global greenhouse gas emissions might be limited, the vessel holds significance as it provides crucial technical and operational insights that can inform the development of larger-scale electric vessels in the future.

The vessel will be equipped with battery systems and shore power capability, optimised for short-sea operations along the Norwegian coast.

It will be developed in collaboration with mining companies GC Rieber Minerals and Franzefoss Minerals, the project aims to showcase the commercial and environmental viability of battery-electric propulsion in coastal freight transport.

It will be operated by Norwegian ship operator K. Sætre & Sønner.

By Tuhin Roy

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