Busan Port commissions first state-owned electric ferry

Busan Port Authority has launched South Korea’s first all-electric passenger ferry with power and propulsion systems from Switzerland-based ABB. The vessel, built by Kangnam Corporation in Busan, is the first of up to 140 assets which the South Korean Government plans to replace with clean-running units by 2030.

The company has a range of systems installed on board. They include the ABB Onboard DC Grid^TM, a network that ensures battery power is supplied most effectively to consumers on board, and ABB’s power and energy management system (PEMS^TM) to control overall power distribution.

The ferry’s operation will be monitored remotely by experts at ABB Ability^TM Collaborative Operations Centres. And an ABB Ability^TM Remote Diagnostics System will ensure safe operation and fault detection.

Two 1,068-kWh battery packs will take about 90 minutes to recharge, requiring about 500kW of power and enabling the ferry to operate for about two hours. The vessel will be connected to shore charging systems when at berth.

ABB’s Marine & Ports’ Riccardo Repetto, global segment manager, Short Distance Shipping, commented: “The launch of this new passenger ferry is testament to both Busan Port Authority’s and South Korea’s decarbonisation ambitions and provides a blueprint in pursuit of increasing energy-efficiency and reducing emissions. 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.”