K. Sætre Rederi has contracted Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes for a new fully electric cargo ship, with delivery expected in March 2028. At the same time, the shipping company has entered into a long-term freight agreement with 7 Steel for the transport of steel along the Norwegian coast.
The new ship will be 70 metres long and have a cargo capacity of approximately 3400 tonnes. The vessel will be equipped with a 13.3-MWh battery pack, giving it an electric range of over 270 nautical miles. This sets a new standard for electric cargo ships in its segment.
‘This marks an important technological leap for coastal shipping. With this range, we can operate large parts of the coast entirely electrically and mainly use existing charging infrastructure,’ says Åge Sætre of K. Sætre Rederi.
The ship is being built at Royal Bodewes. SEAM in Haugesund will supply the electric propulsion package for the ship and will be the largest single supplier in the project. Together, the companies have developed a new, optimised ship for this route.
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Circular value chain
The project is closely linked to 7 Steel’s sustainable strategy and circular value chain. The ship is tailor-made for their transport needs and will be able to operate emission-free using existing charging infrastructure.
The collaboration between K. Sætre Rederi and the ironworks in Mo i Rana spans several decades. The shipping company has long been responsible for transporting steel scrap to Mo i Rana and distributing finished reinforcement products along the coast. The ship MS Rana Frakt has served this transport need for over thirty years. The new ship is designed for a long service life and with the ambition of fulfilling a similar role in the decades to come.
The ship will operate under the Norwegian flag and with Norwegian conditions for the crew. The project builds on K. Sætre Rederi’s long tradition of coastal shipping.
Picture: Royal Bodewes will build a zero-emission ship to sail along the Norwegian coast (image by K. Sætre Rederi).
Also read: Royal Bodewes documentary lands Maritime Achievement Award
