Yara Birkeland’s Voyage from Horten to Oslo

We are proud to announce that Yara Birkeland, the world’s first fully electric and soon to be autonomous container vessel with zero emissions is ready to be put into operation in 2022! With key collaboration from KONGSBERG, VARD and Enova SF, this project shows how through join efforts, we have developed a world-leading innovation that contributes to the green shift. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Yara Birkeland set sail on November 18th from Horten to Oslo for it’s first and only visit where partners and key stakeholders experienced the ship first-hand and learned more about the process behind this great achievement. More about Yara Birkeland below. Yara and technology company KONGSBERG teamed up with the ambition to build the world’s first autonomous and zero-emission container vessel. With the aim of reducing diesel-powered truck haulage by 40,000 journeys a year, Yara Birkeland will reduce NOx and CO2 emissions, improve road safety, reduce road dust formation and reduce traffic noise while transporting fertilizer from Yara’s factory in Porsgrunn to the export port in Brevik. On the technical side, KONGSBERG is responsible for the development and delivery of all essential technologies at Yara Birkeland. This applies to the sensors and integration required for remote and autonomous operations, as well as electrical propulsion, battery and control systems. Yara Birkeland will be put into operation in 2022. Initially it will start a two-year trial to become autonomous and certified as an autonomous, fully electric container vessel.