Norwegian firms, Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly, are partnering with Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO to provide two electric vessels by 2022, managing their operations thereafter. The fully electric ships are set to replace a fleet of 800 trucks, projecting savings of 5,000 tons of CO2/year.
This will help link ASKO warehouses on the western side of the Oslo fjord with its distribution center on the eastern side.
The Norwegian Maritime Authorities (NMA) must be satisfied with safety standards before they will issue an approval for operation for the vessels, and will conduct a detailed risk assessment, based on IMO 1455 guidelines with regards to equivalent and alternative designs, new technology, verification, and approval for operation.
The vessels have been designed by Norwegian vessel designer Naval Dynamics and will be constructed at the state-owned Cochin Shipyard in India.