Yara International's autonomous electric containership Yara Birkeland has successfully completed its first voyage.
The Norwegian ammonia producer and LPG carrier operator said the vessel is a first in terms of combining zero-emissions technology and autonomy.
The 120-teu, 3,200-dwt ship has been built at Norwegian shipyard Vard Brattvag, after pandemic-related delays.
On its maiden voyage on 18 November, a crew steered the Yara Birkeland from the town of Horten to Oslo — 70km (43 miles) — to be greeted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
Commercial operations will begin next year as part of a two-year trial phase that will see the unit move towards the use of ammonia, as well as full autonomy without seafarers.
The ship will cut 1,000 tonnes of CO2 and replace 40,000 trips by diesel-powered trucks each year through battery power.
Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of Yara, said: "We have been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Yara Birkeland will transport mineral fertiliser between Porsgrunn and Brevik, he added.
New start for boxships
"This is an excellent example of green transition in practice, and we hope this ship will be the start of a new type of emission-free container ships," the CEO said.
"There are a lot of places in the world with congested roads that will benefit from a high-tech solution like this," he added.
Enova, a Norwegian government agency responsible for promotion of renewable energy, allocated up to NOK 133.5m ($15m) to build the ship.
Yara has initiated the development of green ammonia as an emission-free fuel for shipping, through the newly started Yara Clean Ammonia division.
Yara Birkeland is not the first autonomous containership, however.
China's Brilliant Navigation won that battle with the launch of the experimental 300-teu feeder containership Zhi Fei in October.
The vessel is operating a shuttle service between the main hub of Qingdao and the smaller port of Dongjiakou.
Brinav will manage the ship for Shandong Port Shipping Group.
