NYK Launches Japan’s First Fully Battery-Powered Work Vessel ‘e-Crea’

In a major development, Japan’s leading shipping company, NYK Line, has launched e-Crea, the country’s first fully battery-powered work vessel.

The vessel was officially unveiled on May 23 and will support tugboat operations at the NYK Group’s Koyasu Shipyard in Yokohama City, located in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The compact vessel has been built by Keihin Dock Co. Ltd., a shipbuilding company under the NYK Group based in Yokohama. It is the first vessel in Japan to operate entirely on electricity without using a diesel-powered generator.

The power required for its operations is supplied through a land-based charger at the shipyard, enabling zero carbon dioxide emissions while in use.

The vessel, measuring around 9 meters in length, 3 meters in width, and 1.7 meters in depth, has been designed to carry up to 14 people.

All operational equipment has been installed within the limited internal space, allowing the vessel to perform various roles such as assisting with the docking and undocking of tugboats and vessel movements within the shipyard.

The development of e-Crea posed several technical challenges. The first issue was the weight of the battery modules and electric propulsion system, which turned out to be heavier than expected.

To solve this, the placement of heavy machinery and internal cables had to be carefully adjusted to maintain the vessel’s balance and ensure smooth navigation.

Another key challenge was managing the heat produced by the battery and propulsion systems, and to address this, a water-cooling system was added along with air ducts to release the heat efficiently.

The battery room was also modified with fireproofing and gas protection systems to enhance onboard safety.

The vessel is also much quieter than traditional fuel-powered boats, providing a more comfortable onboard experience. The name e-Crea is a combination of “electricity” and the Latin word creare, meaning “to create.” It is pronounced “éclair” in Japanese because of its resemblance to the French pastry.

According to NYK, this initiative is part of its effort to achieve decarbonization and promote the use of next-generation fuels such as ammonia and other sustainable technologies.

The experience and knowledge gained from building and operating e-Crea will also be applied in the development of a fully electric tugboat, which is scheduled to be completed by December 2026.

The vessel has been classified by the Japan Craft Inspection Organization (JCI) and is owned by NYK, built and operated by Keihin Dock.

Reference: NYK Line

Source: Maritime Shipping News