On October 27, Croatian shipyard Brodosplit held a keel laying ceremony for the zero-emission sailing power propulsion passenger ship.
It is reported that this new "electric sailing ship" is an three-masted sailing ship , with a total length of 63.50 meters, a width of 10 meters, a height of 5.35 meters, a total tonnage of 500GT, and can carry 24 passengers. The hull and superstructure will be made of steel, while the mast is made of aluminum alloy.
When sailing without sailing, the ship will be powered by two 150 kW motors , each powered by a battery system that continuously charges from different sources. At a speed of 6 knots, the ship only needs 70 kilowatts of electricity. The ship will be equipped with 15 tons of batteries with a maximum capacity of 1800 kWh. Due to regulations, two diesel generators, , will be installed on the ship, but will only start if needed or in an emergency.
The project was launched in February 2020 and is funded by the EU fund. Its design and all technical solutions are from the DIV Group, the parent company of the Brodosplit shipyard, and has established partnerships with scientific institutions. Alternative propulsion technologies and energy based on environmentally friendly design are used on board to achieve sustainable maneuverability with zero emissions, support environmental sustainability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air and noise pollution.
According to the design, the ship will be equipped with two vertical wind turbines at the bow and stern, which can provide electricity when the ship is in the port and when the sail is lowered. A photovoltaic solar system will be installed on top of the superstructure, so the ship will get electricity and water from fully renewable resources and all the energy without any CO2 emissions, achieving not only 100% "green" but also having little fuel and propulsion machinery costs.
Unlike similar ships, this electric sailboat can also charge the battery in a very complex way during navigation. In addition to wind turbine , water turbine and solar panel , a ship propeller system with variable pitch and special blade geometry is used to act as a water turbine during navigation. This special propeller will charge the high-power battery on the lower deck.
In addition, all information on the ship will be collected and controlled on the bridge, which includes weather data, all ship and propulsion system data, battery power supply, engine operation, solar panels, wind turbines, hot water, energy consumption, and more. Meanwhile, all energy “rewards” and “spensions” on board are monitored.
It is understood that this ship will be able to sail unrestricted in all waters in the world. During the peak tourist season of Croatia , the ship will sail along Croatia, Italy, Slovenia , Montenegro , Albanian and Greek coasts on Adriatic , and in the off-season, hiking in Caribbean and other tourist destinations.
