Yara Birkeland Celebrates Three Years of Zero-Emission Shipping

The Yara Birkeland, the world's first fully electric and autonomous container vessel, reached its third year of commercial operation in April. Operated by Yara International and powered by Leclanché's lithium-ion battery technology, the vessel has completed over 250 voyages, effectively replacing 35,000 diesel-powered truck journeys.

Equipped with Leclanché’s MRS-2 marine rack system, the Yara Birkeland has demonstrated safe, reliable, and efficient energy storage, achieving significant reductions in CO₂ emissions and operational costs. Recent advancements include supervised Auto-Docking and Auto-Crossing capabilities, moving towards fully autonomous voyages.

The vessel serves as a model for sustainable maritime transport, driving forward the decarbonisation of shipping and influencing future regulatory frameworks and marine battery technology development.