Corvus Energy’s battery system selected for South America’s first hybrid electric ship

Norway-based energy storage company Corvus Energy has received a contract to provide a battery energy storage system onboard Magellan Discoverer, the first hybrid diesel-electric vessel to be constructed in South America.

As disclosed, Corvus Energy will supply an Orca Energy Storage system to be used for zero-emission operation mode.  The polar expedition cruise ship Magellan Discoverer will be built at Chilean shipyard Astilleros y Servicios Navales S.A. (ASENAV) for cruise operator Antarctica 21. 

he 93-meter, 163-passenger vessel will have all the latest technology onboard for sustainable operation like solutions for regenerating energy from the lifts, and heat exchangers that will collect warmed air before it is expelled outside.

The battery system will be part of ABB’s full power plant delivery onboard the ship. 

Along with the cutting-edge hybrid-electric propulsion system, Magellan Discoverer will be able to operate within the stringent Tier III emission standards, according to Corvus Energy.

“We are very proud to have been selected by ASENAV and Antarctica21 to be part of the very first hybrid vessel built in South America and to collaborate with Corvus Energy, ensuring the vessel achieves full performance,” said Dick Bjorkqvist, Global Segment Manager, Cruise, ABB Marine & Ports.

“It means a lot for us to be a supplier for such an important project in the region. Going forward, we do expect a significant uptake of electric and hybrid projects across segments in South America. With our unsurpassed experience from more than 1,000 projects worldwide, we will do our best to serve as an expert resource and reliable partner when ship owners, operators, designers and shipbuilders pursue the electrification of shipping,” Ole-Jacob Irgens, Executive Vice President of Corvus Energy stated.

Magellan Discoverer is planned to join the Antarctica21 fleet for the 2026-27 Antarctic season. The vessel will be operating from King George Island around the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and Antarctica. It will be the second sustainable expedition cruise ship for Antarctica21, joining its sister vessel, Magellan Explorer, currently in operation.

The interest in hybrid and electric vessel propulsion in Latin America is increasing. In recent months, Corvus Energy has secured projects for battery systems onboard vessels planned for operations both in Panama and Argentina as well as ongoing sales projects in other Latin American countries.

To remind, the company recently received type approval from classification society DNV for the cyber security notation on the control and monitoring system of the Orca energy storage system (ESS).