Navis Aims to Slash Bunker Bill by 30% with Battery-Diesel Hybrid Propulsion

NAVIS says that they, along with their project partners, are aiming to design the first hybrid battery-diesel propulsion longliner in Iceland.

NAVIS ehf (NAVIS) says that they, along with Naust Marine hf. (Naust Marine), the Icelandic Ocean Cluster Green Marine Technology, and NýOrka (Icelandic New Energy), are aiming to design the first hybrid battery-diesel propulsion longliner in Iceland, which NAVIS notes will be capable of gleaning up to a 30 percent reduction in bunker costs.

"Everything suggests that with this hybrid technology up to 30% of fuel oil cost compared with diesel oil will be saved and in that manner the carbon foot print will be reduced accordingly and, if we are successful in turning to the use of methanol, even more reduction of the carbon foot print may be attained," said Hjortur Emilsson, NAVIS' general manager.

NAVIS and its project partners are said to have applied for a grant from the Icelandic Center of Research (Rannis) to support the project, which will see the creation of an original from-scratch hybrid vessel design.

Emilsson explains that the design will include hybrid technology the allows the boat's diesel engine to be shut off upon arrival at its fishing grounds, utilising the noiseless and pollution free electric motor while fishing, and enabling the choice between using electric or diesel propulsion during the return to port.

Up until now, says Emilsson, minimal attention has been focused on the energy efficiency of small boats, adding "we think the time has come to pause a little and take a breath and consider what there is necessary to have on board in order to obtain as economic an operation as possible."

On Tuesday, Ship & Bunker reported that Norway-based Hurtigruten AS (Hurtigruten) says its has intentions of transitioning to vessels with dual battery-bio fuel propulsion.