- The Decatrip project created a green maritime corridor, modernizing ships and developing retrofit EV charging equipment.
- Viking Line now offers greener transport, including biofuel options, with Åbo Akademi optimizing battery and EV charging.
- Funded by Business Finland and companies, the project continues to develop the route and assess global scalability.
In a sustainable shipping breakthrough, the Decatrip collaboration has set up the world’s first green maritime corridor
The Decatrip project has successfully created the world’s first green maritime corridor. The project, initiated in 2022, is a collaborative effort by Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), Viking Line, Åbo Akademi, and Kempower. The eco-friendly maritime route sails between Turku, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden.
RMC explored the technology needed to modernise Viking Line’s vessels. By retrofitting these ships with batteries, RMC is able to reduce fuel consumption and methane emissions. As a result, Viking Line is now equipped to offer greener transport services to its customers.
Kempower played a crucial role by developing retrofit charging equipment for electric vehicles on board the ships. Their ChargEye software ensures the safety and reliability of these charging solutions.
Mikko Veikkolainen, Kempower’s Vice President of Research & Innovation, commented:
“It has been a pleasure to be part of this project and to develop charging solutions for ships’ car decks. Reliability and safety are key for us, and the Kempower ChargEye charging management software ensures the safety of our charging solutions,”
Viking Line has taken a significant step by offering biofuel options to passengers and freight customers. This move enables low-emission travel and supports the use of 100% renewable biofuel.
Åbo Akademi contributed by developing a simulation model to optimise battery and electric vehicle charging devices. They also analysed the societal benefits of the project and created a framework for similar future projects.
The Decatrip project received partial funding from Business Finland, with the majority coming from the participating companies. The partners will continue to develop the green corridor between Turku and Stockholm and assess the potential for similar projects worldwide.
The Decatrip project marks a significant milestone in the green transition of maritime transport. It showcases the potential of electric solutions in reducing environmental impact across the board.
