The next generation of short sea shipping

Instead of using diesel fuel, ReVolt is powered by a 3,000-kWh battery. This reduces operating costs by minimising the number of high maintenance parts such as rotational components, DNV GL said. The vessel has a range of 100 nautical miles, before the battery needs to be charged. If the energy required for that is harnessed from renewable sources, this would eliminate carbon dioxide emissions, the classification society added. The vessel can achieve an average speed of 6 knots and faces less water resistance than other ships, which usually travel at about 8.7 knots. The slight loss of speed allowed the engineers to fit a straight vertical bow, further reducing water resistance along the ship’s entire profile and ultimately saving energy.
ReVolt does not require a crew and therefore tackles one of the shipping industry’s major challenges: the safety record. With an average of 900 fatalities per year the mortality rate in shipping is 90% higher than in comparable land-based industries, according to DNV GL. Studies have shown that the majority of these accidents are caused by human error, it said. Unmanned vessels take this factor out of the equation and make the operation of these ships more cost-efficient.
With no crew, there is no need for crew facilities such as the superstructure on board this vessel. The resulting increase in loading capacity, as well as low operating and maintenance costs, mean that compared with a diesel-run ship ReVolt could save up to USD 34 Million during its estimated 30-year-life-time.
The concept ship is currently still being tested. “Building and operating this vessel would be possible with today’s technology. ReVolt is intended to serve as inspiration for equipment makers, shipyards and shipowners to develop new solutions on the path to a safe and sustainable future”, said Hans Anton Tvete, senior researcher at DNV GL.