By
Alex Smith |
Busan Port Authority has launched South Korea’s first state-owned all-electric ferry, as part of a plan to replace 140 state-owned vessels with ships powered by cleaner energy sources by 2030.
The ferry was built by South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation in line with environmental legislation. Sustainable ferries form part of South Korea’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as outlined in the country’s Green New Deal announced in 2020.
“This vessel demonstrates Busan Port Authority’s commitment to cleaner, smarter port operations,” said Woong-Ki Lee, port manager at Busan Port Authority. “By introducing an all-electric ferry to serve our North–South Port connection, we are reducing local emissions and noise while providing a replicable model for future harbour craft. ABB’s integrated electric propulsion and energy storage system has given us the efficiency, safety, and reliability we need to deliver a better experience for passengers and a healthier environment for our city.”
The vessel’s end-to-end electric power and propulsion system was supplied by technology group ABB. The Onboard DC Grid power distribution system supplies battery output to the vessel’s subsystems, with ABB’s PEMS power and energy management system controlling overall power distribution, increasing fault tolerance and reliability. During operations, the ferry is remotely monitored and supported by experts from ABB’s global network of ABB Ability Collaborative Operations Centers. Remote support, connectivity and data analytics provided through the ABB Ability Remote Diagnostics System enhance operational safety, optimise performance and enable prompt detection and correction of faults on board.
The vessel is equipped with two 1,068-kilowatt-hour battery packs for emissions-free operations. Fully charging the batteries with 500 kilowatts of power requires approximately one hour and 30 minutes, enabling around two hours of operation. While berthed, the ferry is connected to the shore charging station via an optical communication link, which allows automatic control of charging and discharging from onboard.
“The launch of this new passenger ferry is testament to both Busan Port Authority’s and South Korea’s decarbonization ambitions and provides a blueprint in pursuit of increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions,” said Riccardo Repetto, global segment manager for short distance shipping in ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “The project also demonstrates the power of ABB’s Onboard DC Grid as an enabling platform for cleaner maritime operations. We are proud to have played an integral role in delivering South Korea’s first state-owned all-electric ferry.”