EST-Floattech has been selected to deliver its Octopus Lite battery system for six new 11,000 DWT general cargo vessels.
The vessels will be built by Ferus Smith in the Netherlands for Irish ship operator Arklow Shipping.
EST-Floattech worked with the shipyard and Eekels Technology – the vessels’ electrical systems provider – to design the system to fit the sailing profile of the ships and provide technological and efficiency gains.
The new series of general cargo vessels represents another chapter in the ongoing collaboration between Ferus Smit and Arklow Shipping.
The battery systems will support several onboard functions, such as grid stabilization during sailing.
Other functions include loading and offloading operations, particularly when the vessel’s electric excavator is deployed.
The Octopus Lite BESS will also provide power for the bow thruster and enable zero-emission port stays, improving overall efficiency and reducing CO2 and other emissions across the vessel’s entire operational profile.
Patrick Kuiper, mechanical designer at Ferus Smit Shipyard, said, “We selected EST-Floattech as our partner because of their proven battery performance and excellent service on previous vessel series. Their modular battery system design allows for capacity upgrades over the vessel’s lifetime, providing the shipowner with added flexibility and ensuring the vessels remain futureproof.”
Walter van der Pennen, CCO at EST-Floattech, added, “We are grateful for the trust that Ferus Smit, Eekels and Arklow Shipping have put in us. In general, we see a strong interest among cargo vessel owners to operate more efficiently, and with lower emissions. With tightening regulations our battery systems, in combination with modern electric propulsion solutions, help owners reduce fuel consumption and emissions today, while preparing them for the cleaner, more sustainable shipping of tomorrow.”
Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for 2026, with the final vessel expected to be completed in 2029.
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