Zinus’ charging solution for Singapore’s first fully electric ferry route

March 14, 2022, by Ajsa Habibic

Zinus, a provider of shore power solutions, has secured a contract with Penguin Shipyard International to deliver a fully automatic charging solution to three electric passenger catamarans being constructed for oil and gas major Shell.

Under the contract, Zinus will deliver three charging towers for installation on land and six receiving units for charging plugs to be installed onboard the vessels.

As described, connecting the fast ferries to the power supply takes around 20 seconds and the system can deliver a current of 4,400 amperes.

Once built, the three fast ferries will transport workers to and from Shell Energy and Chemical Parks on the island of Pulau Bukom outside Singapore.

The vessels, which are part of Shell’s sustainability program, are said to be the first fully electric ferry service in Singapore and the first for Shell globally.

According to Zinus, the three charging towers and six charging connections will be delivered to the yard in October this year. The three catamarans are expected to enter service during the first half of 2023.

At the same time, the contract represents a breakthrough in Asia and a key milestone for the Norwegian company that has collaborated with a team from Penguin since the autumn of 2021 to find the best charging solution for the ferries.

“This is an especially important order for Zinus, and we are pleased with our agreement with the … Penguin Shipyard. The contract marks our breakthrough in Asia and is a key milestone that strengthens our position internationally. We see Singapore as a very interesting market by virtue of its great focus on environment and sustainability”, said Zinus’ CEO Endre Eidsvik.

In the company-related news, in December 2021, Zinus received a contract from compatriot company Havnekraft to develop and deliver a flexible shore power solution for cruise ships calling at Haugesund Cruise Port.

Ronny Olson, sales director at Zinus, said at the time that the new system will be an “all-in-one solution” that focuses on fast connection, easy user operation and reduced operating costs.