A Main Cruise Ship Player Will Make a Commitment to Battery Power This Year: Foreship

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday March 3, 2017

Jan-Erik Räsänen, the Head of New Technology at naval architect and engineering company Foreship Ltd. (Foreship) believes a main cruise ship player will make a commitment to battery power before the year's end.

"This is a critical moment for shipping, given the range of technologies and many combinations available, and different views on whether battery technology is best installed at newbuild stage or during a retrofit," he said.

"I am convinced that one of the main cruise ship players will make a commitment to battery power before the end of this year, and Foreship's goal is to consider the complete picture and design the best-performing ship. Technical objectivity is best achieved at this early stage, before suppliers become involved."

The comments came alongside the company's announcement that it had appointed Räsänen, said to be a ship energy expert, to the new Head of New Technology role as part of the company's push to enhance its energy-saving consulting services

The company says that the move comes at a time when the cruise industry is mulling the most suitable way of harnessing hybrid, battery, and fuel cell technologies.

In his new Helsinki-based role, Räsänen will focus on assisting shipowners in implementing energy-saving measures developed by Foreship.

Utilising his experience in energy efficiency and retrofits, Foreship says Räsänen will also advise on the application of digitalisation, hybrid, battery, and fuel cell technologies in shipping.

"Cruise owners are aware that battery technology has been proving itself in the ferry market, especially in the commuter sector," said Räsänen.

"The basic technologies we have in our hands today will be around for the coming 5-10 years.

"However, costs are likely to fall over the next two years, while I expect different battery chemistries to serve energy and power applications. This is a decisive moment for alternative energy sources in shipping."