Bibby Marine lays keel for e-CSOV

Liverpool-based Bibby Marine has carried out a keel-laying ceremony for its first electric commissioning service operation vessel (e-CSOV). The vessel is under construction at Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, and is due for delivery in 2027.

The highlight of the ceremony was the welding of a coin dating from 1807, the year that the Bibby firm was established, into the keel plates of the vessel by Bibby Line Group’s CEO, Jonathan Lewis.

The vessel will incorporate a dynamic positioning and main propulsion management system from Norway’s Kongsberg, batteries from Corvus Energy, also in Norway, and engine and propulsion components from Wärtsilä.

Commenting at the event, Bibby’s Lewis said: “This vessel is more than a feat of engineering – it’s a symbol of our values as a business, in action. At Bibby Marine, we believe in doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. We began work on zero-emissions vessels back in 2019, long before it was mainstream. As we lay the keel for our electric-first vessel, we are proud to be proving that clean, sustainable maritime solutions are not only possible, but essential.”