Bjørn Tore Orvik is project leader for Yara Birkeland, the world’s first autonomous and zero-emission container vessel.
Gearing up to launch in 2020, the boat is the result of collaboration between maritime engineering firm Kongsberg, which has developed the battery system, the electric drive, and the components for autonomous navigation, and Yara International, a large Norwegian chemical company.
The ambition is for the Yara Birkeland to replace 40,000 truck journeys a year, thereby reducing NOx fumes and CO2 emissions, which will improve road safety in a densely-populated urban area in Norway.
It will then transition to autonomous by 2022.
“Yara Birkeland shows what can be achieved through collaboration on new climate solutions,” commented Orvik, while accepting a business climate award managed by environmental foundation ZERO.
“We are looking for new and smart solutions at all levels, and this award inspires us to find more solutions and concepts that will make food production more efficient and sustainable in the future.”
He adds that 678 metric tonnes of CO2 will be removed from the air by the ballast-free container vehicle.
Orvik has worked with Yara since 2012, first as Finance and Logistics Manager and then as the Project Hub Manager for Scandinavia. He has also worked at Borgestad ASA and at oil giant Shell.
He holds a Masters degree in International Logistics from the University of Plymouth, and an LLM in Maritime Law from the University of Oslo.
Tags: Electric vehicle, shipping, Sweden
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