Japan targets global take-up of its all-electric fleet

In a breakthrough for battery-powered shipping, Japanese plans to develop all-electric propulsion for bunker supply vessels operating in Tokyo Bay could ultimately lead to the country’s entire 7,000-strong fleet of domestic vessels being battery-driven.

Four giant corporations have thrown their weight into a project that has been dubbed e5 Lab: operator Asahi Tankers specialising in transporting oil-related products; project manager Exeno Yamamizu; Mitsubishi Corporation; and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), with others likely to join the venture as it unfolds.

Japanese classification society ClassNK is also involved and…


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