Photo: YGT
Hydromover is officially the first fully electric cargo vessel designed and built in Singapore, and it's gearing up to become a floating lab that will help speed up the transition toward a green domestic fleet.
Several governments around the world have committed to supporting greener fleets and maritime innovations that can lower emission levels. In Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) launched a grant program in 2021 that was specifically aimed at the electrification of harbor watercraft.
Goal Zero Consortium, led by SeaTech, was one of the participants that submitted a proposal, which now became the first project that's ready for commercial trials.
It's called the Hydromover, and it's an all-electric light cargo vessel – the first of its kind in Singapore. The 18.5-meter (60.6 feet) aluminum ship boasts a generous cargo deck area of 60 square meters (645.8 square feet) with a total capacity of up to 25 tons. Equipped with two 235 kW motors with full redundancy, it can cruise at a top speed of 12 knots (22 kph) and cover up to 40 nautical miles (74 km) at half load.
The Hydromover features a high-efficiency hull that can withstand rough sea conditions and minimize drag, and one of its most important characteristics is the battery swapping capability. In other words, the boat's batteries can be replaced quickly and easily, which drastically reduces downtime, and this is a major asset for regular cargo operations with strict schedules.
Prior to the official launch, the Hydromover underwent multiple risk assessments focused on battery operation and swapping. It was also officially certified by RINA for battery-powered operations.
The innovative vessel was designed by SeaTech and built by Lita Ocean. Shift Clean Energy was in charge of the battery technology, while Yinson GreenTech (YGT) was the program manager responsible for the onboard systems and commercialization.
Hydromover was designed to operate efficiently with zero emissions. Plus, its high-level energy efficiency will also result in significantly lower operating costs. According to the project partners, it could cut operational costs by half compared to conventional vessels used for the same purpose.
What's next for the freshly launched ship? It will operate as a floating lab for the R&D partners of YGT and the Goal Zero Consortium. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) are two of them, and they'll use the operational feedback to study the specifics of battery-powered vessels.
The ultimate goal is to continue to improve this design and to electrify harbor fleets gradually. Plus, the project has also secured its first customers who are willing to charter the Hydromover and electrify their own fleets in the future.
Hydromover is not only one of the first all-electric vessels of its kind but also the first one to be designed and engineered in Singapore, with the help of local suppliers, which will help put this Asian country at the forefront of maritime innovations.
Goal Zero Consortium, led by SeaTech, was one of the participants that submitted a proposal, which now became the first project that's ready for commercial trials.
It's called the Hydromover, and it's an all-electric light cargo vessel – the first of its kind in Singapore. The 18.5-meter (60.6 feet) aluminum ship boasts a generous cargo deck area of 60 square meters (645.8 square feet) with a total capacity of up to 25 tons. Equipped with two 235 kW motors with full redundancy, it can cruise at a top speed of 12 knots (22 kph) and cover up to 40 nautical miles (74 km) at half load.
The Hydromover features a high-efficiency hull that can withstand rough sea conditions and minimize drag, and one of its most important characteristics is the battery swapping capability. In other words, the boat's batteries can be replaced quickly and easily, which drastically reduces downtime, and this is a major asset for regular cargo operations with strict schedules.
Prior to the official launch, the Hydromover underwent multiple risk assessments focused on battery operation and swapping. It was also officially certified by RINA for battery-powered operations.
The innovative vessel was designed by SeaTech and built by Lita Ocean. Shift Clean Energy was in charge of the battery technology, while Yinson GreenTech (YGT) was the program manager responsible for the onboard systems and commercialization.
Hydromover was designed to operate efficiently with zero emissions. Plus, its high-level energy efficiency will also result in significantly lower operating costs. According to the project partners, it could cut operational costs by half compared to conventional vessels used for the same purpose.
What's next for the freshly launched ship? It will operate as a floating lab for the R&D partners of YGT and the Goal Zero Consortium. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) are two of them, and they'll use the operational feedback to study the specifics of battery-powered vessels.
The ultimate goal is to continue to improve this design and to electrify harbor fleets gradually. Plus, the project has also secured its first customers who are willing to charter the Hydromover and electrify their own fleets in the future.
Hydromover is not only one of the first all-electric vessels of its kind but also the first one to be designed and engineered in Singapore, with the help of local suppliers, which will help put this Asian country at the forefront of maritime innovations.
Google News