Japan’s Imoto Lines plans to build and operate a small container ship with renewable electric batteries.
The 200-teu vessel will be built at Miura Shipbuilding in Japan and will operate in the domestic trades from early 2027.
It is designed to achieve zero emissions not only during operations but also within ports and while docked.
It is expected to initiate operations on the service linking Kobe to Hiroshima.
The order is part of a three-year government-supported project in partnership with Japanese maritime technology firm Marindows.
The 81-metre-long vessel will have 20-foot (six-metre) container batteries, alongside onboard batteries and generators.
It will attain zero emissions on a range of 333 km using five container batteries.
The hybrid vessel will also have diesel generator sets to increase range when needed, up to 5,000 km.
It is designed to operate with a smaller crew, although operating costs will be around 30% higher than existing ships.
Imoto Lines is Japan’s leading feeder operator, in which Mitsui OSK Lines is a major shareholder.
The two companies have previously pioneered sea trials of unmanned coastal container ships across the Sea of Japan.
MOL is making a bet on battery power for shipping.
Its venture capital arm MOL Plus is also pumping money into shipowner and technology company Fleetzero, which is developing the world’s first zero-emission long-range electric container ship.
Imoto Lines operates a fleet of 31 Japanese-built and flagged vessels.
Its website lists it with 29 vessels ranging from 100 teu to 700 teu, as well as two 1,100-teu ships.
