A new type of container ship fully loaded with clean energy technology is about to depart from Zhejiang Shipyard and head towards the Northern European Sea Route. On June 12, 2026, Zen, a subsidiary of the Norwegian Eitzen Group, announced its shipbuilding plan and finalized the construction cooperation of two 900TEU fully electric propulsion container ships. The pressure to reduce emissions in global shipping continues to rise, and many countries are accelerating the layout of electric ships and port charging facilities. Norway has long increased subsidies for green shipping, and enterprises are seizing the opportunity of electrification on short haul routes. They will install a complete set of self-developed high specification battery systems on new ships, rely on the mature shipbuilding capacity of domestic shipyards to land projects, and after completion, open up green freight channels for ports in many Nordic countries, providing large-scale practical samples for regional zero carbon shipping.

Zhejiang Shipyard undertakes shipbuilding orders

Two electric container ships were handed over to Zhejiang Dongpeng Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for construction, with the first ship construction period of 24 months and the second ship construction period of 27 months. Zen, the shipowner enterprise, is deeply involved in the electrification of maritime transportation. After the completion of the new ship, it will be put into regular operation on the North Sea route, covering multiple core ports in the Nordic region such as Hamburg, Gothenburg, and Oslo, and building an exclusive green electric shipping corridor. After these ships are put into operation, they will also join the ranks of the world's top commercial electric container ships, filling the gap of large capacity pure electric shipping ships in Northern Europe.

100 megawatt hour battery empowers navigation

The ship has been approved to load 900 standard containers, equipped with a complete set of electric propulsion systems and a self-developed battery pack with a capacity exceeding 100 megawatt hours. The single endurance range is 500 to 600 nautical miles. The core advantages of the battery are outstanding, with an energy density per unit volume that is twice that of similar equipment. It comes with a waterproof structure and can work stably for a long time in water. The entire energy storage equipment is independently developed by Eitzen Group's internal enterprises, greatly reducing ship fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.

Norway's special funds support the landing of Green Air

Enova, the Norwegian energy agency, continues to provide financial support for local electric shipping projects, allocating a total of 363 million Norwegian kroner for the construction of 7 electric ships and four port shore power charging stations. The project can reduce 20000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually. The two container ship projects have received an initial subsidy of 200 million Norwegian kroner, and the Oslo port has simultaneously received 20.6 million Norwegian kroner to promote the landing of port charging infrastructure and ensure the rapid replenishment of electric ships upon arrival.Keywords: electric container ships, Beihai green shipping, ship batteries

Nordic shipping companies have stated that the electrification of short distance sea transportation has mature commercial landing conditions. The construction of two large electric container ships in this project can provide green ship equipment suitable for regional routes in bulk, forcing ports along the route to improve supporting charging facilities, accelerate the low-carbon transformation of the entire shipping industry, and provide a replicable development path for global offshore zero carbon freight development.Editor/Li Xiaohua