The Gothenburg Port Authority has decided to transform Hamnen, an inspection vessel, into an electric powered ship.
Since 1979, this ship has been serving the port 24/7. According to David Falk, skipper of Hamnen and project manager of the electrification project, the complete replacement of Hamnen was considered unnecessary.
Therefore, the authority of the Swedish port decided to convert Hamnen so it can run on electrical power, which will result in lower emissions.
“Hamnen is in very good condition and there is no other ship that is better suited for its mission. By converting it instead of replacing it, we further reduce emissions as the ship will not then be put into service by a new owner,” said Falk.
Hamnen now runs for around 1,200 hours per year, burning approximately 25,000 litres of diesel fuel. This translates to 67 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, or 15% of the Gothenburg Port Authority’s total emissions.
The engine room will be fully transformed, with the present diesel engine of Hamnen being replaced with a completely new 250 kW electric engine. A four to five-ton battery array with 520 kWh capacity will also be installed, with extra battery capacity available in the future if needed.
To complete the conversion process, Hamnen will be taken to the Ö-varvet shipyard on Öckerö Island in the Gothenburg archipelago during the spring and will return to service in the autumn. As the ship is in lay-up, David Falk and the rest of the crew will carry out the inspection mission aboard a smaller substitute vessel.
