Finnish technology group Wärtsilä revealed plans to develop an autonomous, zero-emission barge to operate at the Port of Rotterdam, as part of an EU-funded research project, led by the port authority and aiming to implement green and smart port logistics.
The MAGPIE project (sMArt Green Ports as Integrated Efficient multimodal hubs) resulted from collaboration between the port authorities of Rotterdam, DeltaPort (Germany), HAROPA (France: La Havre, Rouen, Paris) and Sines (Portugal), in partnership with 10 research institutions and over 30 companies in Netherlands, Germany, France, Portugal and Denmark, who have initiated a series of digitalization and automation projects in relation to the energy transition.
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As informed, the project has this month been awarded nearly € 25 million in EU funding to implement projects aimed at sustainable and smart port logistics, including the development of a grand plan that sets out how transport within, to and from ports can be made carbon-free by 2050.
Wärtsilä said it is set to receive the biggest portion of the grant for a sub-project to demonstrate a commercially viable autonomous intra-port inter-terminal container shuttle to address an emerging capacity bottleneck for internal container transportation.
The installation will include advanced technology for automated ship movement and electric propulsion, including an electric drive train and an interchangeable battery container solution, the company said.
We believe that overland transport modes will not be able to absorb the emerging capacity bottleneck for internal container movement. So, we will be delivering an autonomous e-barge concept that can greatly enhance efficiency in the Port of Rotterdam through automated seaborne cargo transshipment. Our ambition is to see these container shuttles introduced into a smart logistics network within the next few years,
…explained Hendrik Busshoff, Business Development Engineer, Wärtsilä Voyage.
The company is part of a consortium that has developed a concept based on the use of replaceable battery containers, known as ZESPacks (Zero Emission Services). Starting from this summer, a network of open access charging points will be set up for exchanging battery containers for fully charged replacements, to keep time in a minimum, added Teus Van Beek, General Manager, Ecosystem Innovation, Wärtsilä Marine Systems.
