Low-carbon sailing ship arrives in Marshall Islands

The 300dwt low-carbon sailing cargo ship SV Juren Ae has been delivered to the Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation (MISC).

The 48m-long vessel has been built to Korean Register (KR) class by Asia Shipbuilding Co Ltd. in Geoje City, South Korea, and funded by the International Climate Initiative. Its finalisation is the result of long-running collaboration between several partners.

Led by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) through its project ‘Transition to Low-Carbon Sea Transport in the Republic of the Marshall Islands’, partners include KR, the University of Applied Sciences Emden-Leer, MISC, Asia Shipbuilding, and naval design company, Kostec Co Ltd, in Busan. 

The ship has a range of innovative features. A battery pack is charged by excess wind energy, providing power for the ship’s electric drive at low speeds. The propeller can operate as a turbine to generate electricity via a hybrid gearbox and generator.

Meanwhile, a partially automated sail system, adapted from a traditional Indonesian sail design, has been developed by the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA). The ‘Indosail-Sailing Rig’, complemented by photovoltaic units and a hybrid system, is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 80% compared with vessels of a similar size.

Its hybrid power arrangement will give the sailing vessel a service speed of about 12 knots under sail, and seven knots with its diesel engine. The SV Juren Ae will be deployed on domestic trades within the Marshall Islands and the broader Pacific region.

KR’s Regional Director North Europe, Michael Suhr, commented: “The SV Juren Ae represents a pivotal moment in maritime innovation. This pioneering ship serves as a beacon for a low-carbon future in maritime transport, showcasing the viability and efficiency of sustainable technologies in the maritime industry.”