Singapore’s marinEV taps Incat Crowther to design new all-electric cargo ship

December 11, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

Australia-based digital shipbuilder Incat Crowther has been contracted to design an ultra-efficient, all-electric light cargo transfer vessel for Singapore’s marinEV, a business of Yinson GreenTech.

As disclosed, the vessel Hydromover 2.0 will feature Incat Crowther’s “efficient hull form” and will be designed to carry a payload of 25 tonnes via its large 65-square-meter cargo deck. The 24-meter ship will be powered by a lithium-ion battery system.

Furthermore, Hydromover 2.0 will be able to accommodate up to four crew members and incorporate new decision-making features such as energy optimization, waypoint calculation, collision detection, and the ability to coordinate remote and autonomous functions. These capabilities will be installed to ensure “efficient and safe operations”, the company noted.

Incat Crowther’s project scope also covers design assessment for the battery system’s functionality and safety features, including fire protection and system certification.

“As Hydromover 2.0 progresses toward sea trials in 2025, Incat Crowther is pleased to be partnering with marinEV to help bring their commitment to transforming maritime transport with innovative, sustainable solutions to life,” Sam Mackay, Technical Manager at Incat Crowther, commented.

“This collaboration with Incat Crowther marks a significant step forward in sustainable shipping in Singapore. Hydromover 2.0 builds on the success of Hydromover 1.0 which has recently completed successful commercial trials. Hydromover 2.0 is a testament to our commitment to innovation and a crucial step in our mission to drive sustainable practices in maritime transport. We’re looking forward to Hydromover 2.0 joining our fleet in 2025 as we continue to accelerate the industry’s transition to net zero,” said Jan-Viggo Johansen, Managing Director of marinEV.

The final stages of designing Hydromover 2.0 are now underway with the selection and evaluation of key equipment in progress. Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) will class Hydromover 2.0 with the “Battery System” notation.

The Hydromover 2.0 project, which kicked off in September this year, builds on the success of the prototype Hydromover 1.0. Launched in November 2023, Hydromover is a lightweight, 18.5-meter vessel equipped with swappable batteries, allowing it to transport up to 25 tonnes of cargo. The ship recently kicked off its commercial trials.

The Hydromover 2.0 is expected to be ready for sea trials from the third quarter of 2025 onwards, joining marinEV’s fleet of electric vessels to support the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) decarbonization target to have all new harbor craft be fully electric or operate on lower carbon fuels by 2030.