MV Yara Birkeland
Autonomous container ship carrying fertilizer between Norwegian ports.
MV Yara Birkeland is a 120-TEU autonomous container ship that transports fertilizer between the Norwegian ports of Herøya and Brevik. It was built as a proof of concept for a fully autonomous vessel capable of worldwide operation and handling tasks from industrial sites to ports.
The ship measures 80 meters in length, with a beam of 14.8 meters, a depth of 12 meters, and a draught of 6 meters. It is powered by electric motors drawing from 6.7 MWh batteries, driving two azimuth pods and two tunnel thrusters. Its optimal speed is 6 knots, with a maximum of 10 knots. The vessel cost $25 million (NOK 250 million) to build, designed by Marin Teknikk with navigation equipment from Kongsberg Maritime. In September 2017, the Norwegian government granted NOK 133.6 million—roughly a third of the total cost—toward its construction.
Named after owner Yara International and its founder, Norwegian scientist Kristian Birkeland, the ship sails the roughly 7-nautical-mile route between Herøya and Brevik, carrying chemicals and fertilizer. It is expected to replace 40,000 truck journeys per year. In late November 2021, the vessel sailed to Oslo, where Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre toured it on November 19, 2021. Remote operation was planned to begin in late 2021 as of August 2021, but regulatory hurdles delayed commercial operations, originally intended for 2022. The ship was christened on April 29, 2022, in Brevik, with 500 local students and Crown Prince Haakon in attendance. Regulations require crew to remain on board for two years before the vessel can be considered for remote control.
In 2019, Yara Birkeland was a finalist in the annual Nor-Shipping Next Generation Ship competition.
Quick Facts
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Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The ship is named after its owners Yara International and its founder, Norwegian scientist Kristian Birkeland. It sails between Herøya and Brevik, a distance of approximately 7 nautical miles, carrying chemicals and fertiliser, and is intended to reduce road truck traffic by 40,000 loads per year. Construction cost $25 million (NOK250 million), with the Norwegian Government granting NOK133.6 million in September 2017, about a third of the total cost. The ship is 80 m long, with a beam of 14.8 m and a depth of 12 m, and a draught of 6 m. Electric motors driving two azimuth pods and two tunnel thrusters are powered by batteries rated at 6.7 MWh, giving an optimal speed of 6 kn and a maximum speed of 10 kn. In late November 2021, the ship sailed to Oslo, where it was toured by the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, on Friday, November 19, 2021. As of August 2021, remote operation was intended to start in late 2021, though regulatory obstacles lie ahead of its intended start of commercial operations in 2022. The ship was christened on April 29, 2022 in Brevik where 500 local students and Crown Prince Haakon were attending. Regulations require crew on board for two years before being considered for remote control.
Reader's Guide
MV Yara Birkeland represents a significant step in autonomous maritime technology, designed as a proof of concept for a fully autonomous ship capable of global travel and multiple functions from industrial site operations to port operations. Its construction was supported by a Norwegian Government grant of NOK133.6 million in September 2017, about a third of the total cost. The ship's intended operation between Herøya and Brevik aims to reduce road truck traffic by 40,000 loads per year. In 2019, the Yara Birkeland was a finalist in the annual Nor-Shipping Next Generation Ship competition. As of August 2021, remote operation was intended to start in late 2021, though regulatory obstacles lay ahead of its intended start of commercial operations in 2022. Regulations require crew on board for two years before being considered for remote control, highlighting the regulatory challenges facing autonomous vessels.
Did You Know?
- The ship is named after Yara International and its founder, Norwegian scientist Kristian Birkeland.
- It has a capacity of 120 TEU and a battery rating of 6.7 MWh.
- The Norwegian Government granted NOK133.6 million towards construction in September 2017.
- The ship was a finalist in the 2019 Nor-Shipping Next Generation Ship competition.
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