PBES’ Brent Perry and Erik Ianssen featured in the Norwegian publication Adressa, by Ann Iren on January 5, 2016. Bellow is our translated version.
Norway wants all boats to use batteries
Selfa Arctic at Selsbakk has hoisted its last diesel fishing vessel out of the pool. Now they are going to make boat batteries, and the annual turnover could increase fivefold.
The family owned factory at Selsbakk has been used for industrial manufacturing since 1872, and today it is the fifth generation of Ianssen, Erik Ianssen, who is the general manager. Monday was both characterized by a feeling of heavy heartedness, and excitement of what is to come. The last fishing boat was hoisted out of the pool and taken down to the sea. The family has run a manufacturing business here since 1872, and I have been building boats since the late 60s. Since 1987 Selfa Arctic been the market leader of coastal fishing vessels. We have delivered more than 2,000 boats, but now we are starting a new chapter, says Ianssen.
First electric fishing boat
In August this year Selfa Arctic delivered the world’s first electric fishing vessel. The green-painted “Karoline” was referred to as the Tesla of the sea by at that time, Minister of Fisheries Elisabeth Aspaker (H).
“Karoline” is now in full operation outside Tromsø and this got Ianssen to want to focus even more on batteries at sea.
– Sustainability has always been very important to me, and the green shift is happening at sea first. Now ferries are run on batteries, we have delivered a fishing boat that runs on batteries, and CEO of Hurtigruten has stated that the next generation of their ships can sail on battery power. Now we will contribute to that more boats will emit as little CO2 as possible, says Ianssen.
Doubling the number of employees
The manufacturing of boats is now being moved from Selsbakk to the company’s factory in Harstad, and the 25 people who work at Selsbakk are going to start working with the battery production. In full operation there will be between 30-60 employees with the company. The premises are being rebuilt in January, before the first batteries are going to be delivered in February.
– We aim for a turnover of 200 million in 2016, says Ianssen, who has had a turnover of around 40 million in recent years.
– This is both profitable and sustainable. However, it is a complicated industry and for that reason we have partnered up with PBES, says Ianssen.
Norway in the driver’s seat
Selfa Arctic is now turning into PBES Norway AS. It is a subsidiary of the company PBES, founded by Brent Perry from Canada. TU recently referred to Perry as the maritime industry’s answer to Elon Musk; founder of Tesla.
Perry started working on using renewable energy and batteries on boats in 2006. Both he and Ianssen are originally shipbuilders and they think that will be one of the keys to success. Because they know what a boat needs of power.
– PBES Norway will produce battery modules and energy storage system for the maritime industry, and it is here in Norway we have to do it. You are innovative, and there is a political will here to start the green shift. It will take at least 25 years before Canada has come as far as Norway, says Perry, who were present on Monday night, when the last fishing boat left Selsbakk.
In addition to Trondheim, PBES will establish production facilities in China and Canada this year.
The following is a translation from the original article written by Ann Iren on January 5, 2016, published in N0rwegian publication Adresseavisen. Original article can be found at: adressa.alda.no