A collaborative agreement to support the switch to electric or hybrid propulsion power for coastal fishing vessels has been struck between the Slippurinn Akureyri shipyard and Siglufjörður company Grænafl, which has been working with manufacturers in South Korea to develop the technology for this fleet sector. The Korean Maritime Institute represents the Korean partners.
Grænafl’s managing director Kolbeinn Óttarsson Proppé commented that bringing in Slippurinn Akureyri with its expertise and specialist skills is a major step forward, and the intention is to convert two vessels this winter – one to fully electric and the other to hybrid propulsion.
‘It’s clear to us all that the era of burning fuel will come to an end in the coming years and there will be a switch to other propulsion methods in fishing vessels, as there will be in other industry sectors. We’re delighted to have a partner here in Iceland to participate in our aim of developing the move to other energy sources for smaller boats,’ Kolbeinn Óttarsson Proppé said.
‘It’s a serious step for us to collaborate with Slippurinn Akureyri, with its extensive experience in ship services.’
A visit from the Korean partners is expected next month, during which the staff of Grænafl and Slippurinn Akureyri expect to map out how the project will proceed during the coming winter months.
‘Our hope is to have these two boats at sea early next summer,’ Kolbeinn Óttarsson Proppé said.
Slippurinn Akureyri’s managing director Páll Kristjánsson commented that this is an interesting venture for the yard, and switching to new energy sources is part of the future that the fishing industry in Iceland and around the world is facing.
‘We have the manpower, facilities and specialist expertise in every aspect of ship services and want to play an active role in the energy switch for fisheries,’ he said.
‘This gives us an opportunity to engage with just such a vernture from the outset to bring electric power to smaller vessels, and this is important in building up a pool of knowledge. We welcome the opportunity to provide our experience and facilities in supporting an innovative company like Grænafl.’
He commented that there is no doubt that in future propulsion will be powered by a wider variety of energy sources than it is today, as the demands of the world around us are changing and there is a rapidly growing focus on renewable energy.
‘This process is already underway and we are also part of a development initiative for larger vessels to test new energy sources. The project with Grænafl is a development that’s going in the same direction. This is part of the future,’ Páll Kristjánsson said.
The agreement has been signed by Grænafl owner and managing director Kolbeinn Óttarsson Proppé, Slippurinn Akureyri’s managing director Páll Kristjánsson and Grænafl co-owner Freyr Gunnlaugsson
