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NavalAutonomous and Zero-Emission Ships Today

Twenty flashcards on ships already at work: the electric autonomous Yara Birkeland, the hydrogen ferry Sea Change and uncrewed vessels.

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20 cards
What does Yara call the Yara Birkeland?
The world's first fully electric, autonomous and zero-emission container ship.
How much cargo does Yara Birkeland carry?
120 TEU of containers, with a deadweight of 3,200 tons.
What drives Yara Birkeland?
Two 900 kW Azipull pods and two 700 kW tunnel thrusters, fed by a 6.8 MWh battery.
What is Yara Birkeland's top speed?
15 knots.
When did Yara Birkeland start commercial operations?
In spring 2022.
What route does Yara Birkeland sail?
Herøya to Brevik in Norway: 11 nautical miles, roughly one hour.
How much had Yara Birkeland carried by its second anniversary?
175 voyages and 21,826 containers.
How many truck trips is Yara Birkeland projected to remove?
40,000 diesel truck journeys a year.
When did Yara Birkeland make its first fully autonomous voyage?
March 2023, under human supervision, from Porsgrunn to Brevik.
Which autonomous functions already work on Yara Birkeland?
Auto-Docking and Auto-Crossing: it leaves the quay, sails and docks on its own while a navigator oversees.
Who is aboard Yara Birkeland today?
A crew of three who supervise for safety, because of regulations; monitoring is moving to the Horten Remote Operations Center.
What is still done by hand on Yara Birkeland?
Mooring; robotic mooring arms are being tested.
What is the MV Sea Change?
The world's first commercial passenger ferry powered 100% by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
When and where did Sea Change start carrying the public?
July 19, 2024, free rides between Pier 41 and the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal.
What does Sea Change emit?
Only water vapor; part of it is remineralized for the onboard drinking fountain.
How big and how powerful is Sea Change?
A 70-foot, 75-passenger catamaran with 360 kW of fuel cells, a 100 kWh battery and 600 kW of electric propulsion.
How fast is Sea Change?
Top speed 15 knots; service speed 8-12 knots.
What did a NOAA-partnered saildrone do in Hurricane Sam in 2021?
It went through the eyewall of the category-4 storm, measuring waves up to 27.5 m (90 ft) and winds of 55 m/s (125 mph).
How many storms have saildrones observed since 2021?
16 tropical cyclones, including 13 hurricanes.
What is DARPA's USX-1 Defiant?
A 180-foot, 240-metric-ton demonstrator ship built with no provision for humans aboard, to operate autonomously at sea for long durations.

Official sources

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)

NOAA Uncrewed Surface Vehicle Hurricane Observations

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS)

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