New fully electric lighter craft vessel to help in decarbonisation of Singapore harbourcraft industry
Sterling PlanB Energy Solutions (SPBES) is proud to announce it is part of the Goal Zero consortium that will help the harbourcraft industry in Singapore decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The consortium has been selected by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) to develop, deploy and commercialize a technologically advanced, fully electric cargo vessel with interoperable charging solutions using swappable batteries for Singapore’s ports.
The Goal Zero consortium, led by SeaTech Solutions International (SSI) and its commercialization partner Yinson Green Technologies Pte Ltd (YGT), received one of three grants jointly awarded by the MPA and SMI on August 5, 2021, with consortiums led by Keppel FELS Limited and Sembcorp Marine receiving the other two grants. MPA and SMI’s joint call for proposals, which was issued in September 2020, attracted strong interest from the maritime community with 73 companies and 10 institutes of higher learning submitting a total of 16 proposals. A total co-funding of $8.4 million CDA (SGD 9 million) was awarded to the three successful consortiums to support the research, design, build and operations of fully electric harbour crafts for the next five years. The electrification pilot projects will demonstrate both the commercial and technical viability of specific use cases for fully electric harbour crafts.
SPBES has the most experienced team in the industry, and produces the safest marine batteries available, with a safety record that exceeds all current regulations. Its founder and CEO Brent Perry pioneered the marine battery sector. SPBES has electrified vessels around the world, including ferries, offshore support vessels, tugboats and others.
“We are excited about this electrification pilot in Singapore – one of the most active ports in the world,” said Perry. “We believe this project will demonstrate to all ports that there is a cost-effective, safe and successful path to zero emissions in the sector using marine batteries.”
Goal Zero will embark on the research, design, build and operations of fully electric cargo vessels over the next five years. The project will pilot one of the most innovative and affordable swappable marine battery solutions designed by SPBES and also contribute to design and development of the interoperable swappable charging stations.
YGT will spearhead Goal Zero’s overall program management and commercialization, while Singapore-based marine design engineering company SSI leads the consortium, developing the vessel design and system integration.
“We are proud that Goal Zero will help to solve some of the biggest issues faced by vessel owners and operators when it comes to the adoption of electric vessels,” said Yinson Executive Vice President, New Ventures and Technology, Eirik Barclay. “We are looking to develop a new ecosystem and business model that is significantly more sustainable for the harbour craft industry while also being more commercially attractive for vessel owners and operators. We chose SPBES as a partner because they are the best in the business in terms of marine batteries.”
The consortium also includes Rina Hong Kong Limited Singapore Branch as the classification society and the Singapore Institute of Technology and Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine Singapore as the institute of higher learning and research institute developing the digital twin. Goal Zero is also supported by industry partners Batam Fast Ferry Pte Ltd, Bernhard Schulte (Singapore) Holdings Pte Ltd, DM Sea Logistics Pte Ltd, Marina Offshore Pte Ltd, Kenoil Marine Services Pte Ltd, Lita Ocean Pte Ltd and Jurong Port Pte Ltd.