VARD to build the world's first autonomous and zero-emission container ship

Photo: Yara & Kongsberg

Yara, a Oslo-based chemical company, has entrusted the Norwegian shipbuilder with the construction of the Yara Birkeland.

The NOK250m-worth contract (approx. €26.1m) will see the delivery of the 120 TEU of capacity container vessel in Q1 2020. Yara Birkeland will be constructed by VARD's facility in Brevik, whereas the hull will be supplied by the company's Braila plant in Romania.

Afterwards, Yara together with its technological partner Kongsberg will run the newbuild step-by-step from manned to remote to autonomous operations, the last of which is to become reality by 2022.

Yara Birkeland will serve the 32 nautical miles-long route between Yara's plant in Porsgrunn and the Norwegian seaports in Larvik and Brevik. Today, around 100 TEUs loaded with fertilizers are transported with the use of trucks, which make 40k truck trips through urban areas annually. According to Yara, thanks to the all-electric zero-emission Yara Birkeland emitting some 700t of CO₂/year will be avoided.

"A vessel like Yara Birkeland has never been built before, and we rely on teaming up with partners with an entrepreneurial mindset and cutting edge expertise. VARD combines experience in customized ship building with leading innovation, and will deliver a game-changing vessel which will help us lower our emissions, and contribute to feeding the world while protecting the planet," Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO, Yara, commented.

Roy Reite, CEO and Executive Director, VARD, added, "We are honored to be chosen as Yara's partner in this innovative and exciting project. With a longstanding experience in building state-of-the-art and tailor-made specialized vessels, we are excited to be given the opportunity to build the world's first autonomous and electric-driven container vessel. It is a pleasure to welcome Yara and Kongsberg to VARD, and we look forward to working closely with all parties involved."

"Yara Birkeland represents an important next step for the entire maritime industry, representing a major technological and sustainable advancement. The Norwegian maritime cluster has taken a leading position within technology, design, legislation, testing and all other aspects of the development," Geir Håøy, CEO, Kongsberg, also said.

Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, summed up, "This is a good example of how Norwegian industry can collaborate to create new solutions and green jobs. Yara, Kongsberg and VARD have built on their knowledge about technology, logistics and ship building with an ambition to create sustainable innovation together. The result is exciting pioneer projects like this one. I am proud that the Government has supported the development of Yara Birkeland through ENOVA and send my best wishes for the construction." The Norwegian government enterprise ENOVA is supporting the project with NOK 133.6m (€14m).