Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Invests 26.8 Billion KRW in Eco-Friendly Electric Passenger Ship Development... Aiming for Operation in 2024

Conceptual diagram of electric propulsion ferry and mobile/replacement power supply system operation.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 20th that it will promote the 'Development Project for Electric Propulsion Car Ferries and Mobile Power Supply Systems,' aiming for actual route deployment in 2024, to reduce fine dust and carbon emissions from car ferries operating along domestic coastal waters.

Car ferries are vessels capable of transporting both passengers and cargo (such as vehicles) simultaneously. In Korea, a total of 165 vessels mainly operate in island areas along the west and south coasts.

The development and dissemination of purely electric propulsion vessels have been spreading since 2015, mainly in Northern Europe and North America. According to the market forecasting agency IDTechEX, the market size related to electric propulsion vessels is expected to grow from $800 million in 2018 to $12.4 billion by 2029.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to invest a total of 26.8 billion KRW over five years until 2024, starting with 7.5 billion KRW this year, to accelerate the development of electric propulsion car ferries and mobile power supply systems.

First, the purely electric propulsion car ferry will be constructed by 2023, with a capacity to transport over 100 passengers and more than 20 vehicles. After a one-year demonstration period including sea trials to ensure technological stability, it is scheduled to be deployed on actual routes by 2024. Additionally, a vehicle-type 'mobile power supply system' will be developed to be used not only for vessels but also to supply power to island regions where electricity supply is relatively unstable compared to the mainland.

Through this project, the Ministry expects that the development of purely electric propulsion car ferries will eliminate pollutants such as fine dust and carbon emissions caused by ferry operations, thereby improving public health and significantly enhancing coastal air quality. Emissions, noise, vibration, and odors from existing diesel-powered car ferries will also disappear, leading to increased passenger satisfaction.

The Ministry selected the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), affiliated with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, as the lead research institution through a public competition. KRISO plans to form a consortium with local governments such as Jeollanam-do and Mokpo City, government-funded research institutes like the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, and private companies such as Raontech to carry out the project. Additionally, the Korean Register (KR), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) are expected to participate in the project.

Yoo Eun-won, Director of Marine Development at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Through this project, we hope to succeed in developing Korea's first purely electric propulsion vessel and mobile power supply system, secure a leading position in the global electric propulsion vessel market, and lead innovative growth in the marine sector."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.