Zinus’ autonomous charging solution will enable fully electric and sustainable sea transportation for workers going to and from Shell Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore. “An important milestone,” says Zinus CEO Endre Eidsvik.
Zinus’ autonomous charging solution will provide fully electric sea transportation for workers going to and from Shell Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore. The approximately 5.5-kilometre-long ferry route off the Straits of Singapore is a busy connection which transports around 3,000 passengers a day, or an estimated 1.8 million passenger trips annually
Zinus recently secured a contract with Penguin Shipyard International in Singapore for the delivery of a fully automatic charging solution to three electric passenger catamarans. The yard is constructing the vessels for Shell. Zinus’ scope includes three charging towers for installation on land, and six receiving units for charging plugs to be installed on board the vessels. Connecting the fast ferries to the power supply only takes around 20 seconds, and the system can deliver a current of 4400 amperes.
“This is an especially important order for Zinus, and we are pleased with our agreement with the renowned Penguin Shipyard. The contract marks our breakthrough in Asia and is a key milestone that strengthens our position internationally. We see Singapore as a very interesting market by virtue of its great focus on environment and sustainability,” says Zinus CEO Endre Eidsvik.
FLEXIBILITY AND FOOTPRINT WERE DECISIVE
The three fast ferries will transport workers to and from Shell Energy and Chemicals Park on the island of Pulau Bukom, just outside Singapore. The vessels are part of Shell’s sustainability program, and according to the energy company, this will be the first fully electric ferry service in Singapore and the first for Shell globally. Zinus will deliver the three charging towers and six charging connections to the yard in October this year. The three passenger catamarans will enter service during the first half of 2023.
Eidsvik says Zinus has collaborated with a team from Penguin since the autumn of 2021, to find the best charging solution for the fast ferries. Finally, the flexibility and minimal footprint of the Zinus system became decisive for the customer’s choice of supplier.
“GOOD COLLABORATION”
Penguin Shipyard is part of Penguin International Limited, a listed Singaporean company that designs, builds, owns and operates high-speed aluminium crafts through a group of wholly owned, integrated subsidiaries. Penguin will also manage the operation of the three passenger catamarans when they enter service between Singapore and Pulau Bukom.
“We have had a good collaboration with Penguin in the tender phase and look forward to further collaboration through the delivery phase and in any new projects in the future,” says Zinus’ CEO.
