zoomIllustration. Image Courtesy: Pixabay under CC0 Creative Commons license

Norwegian maritime technology group Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded contracts with China’s Nanjing Jinling Shipyard to deliver power and hybrid systems to nine roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels ordered by Italian Grimaldi Group.

The contracts are valued at more than NOK 400 million (USD 47.04 million). They include an option for three additional vessels, increasing the total value to more than NOK 500 million.

Due for delivery from 2020, the 64,000-ton vessels will be 238 meters long and 34 meters wide. The nine ships will be able to transport over 7,800 linear meters of rolling units, equivalent to about 500 trailers.

The contract scope for the vessels, which are known as the Grimaldi Green 5th Generation, includes supply and integration of large battery systems, shaft generators, frequency converters and energy management systems. Deliveries will start in mid-2019 and are expected to be completed within 2022.

“This delivery represents introduction of new technology into this market segment. The contract shows that our concepts for hybrid vessels are expanding into new vessel types,” Stene Førsund, EVP Global Sales & Marketing, Kongsberg Maritime, commented.

“Our hybrid solutions deliver tangible benefits. Vessels will have zero emissions while in port, reduced overall fuel consumption by utilising our peak shaving technology, while the batteries will be charged at sea by using the shaft generators,” Førsund added.

“We are delighted to have secured these contracts as they strengthen our market position for hybrid vessels. The project will be executed with resources both in Norway and China,” Egil Haugsdal, President, Kongsberg Maritime, said.