UK shipbuilder Coastal Workboats has inked a battery supply deal with EST-Floattech, a ship battery manufacturer, for its Electric-Landing Utility Vessel (E-LUV). The purpose-built E-LUV is set to become the UK’s inaugural commercial electric workboat, designed for Ro-Ro (Roll on Roll off) and dry cargo transportation ferry duties. Coastal Workboats will construct the vessel at its new yard in Stornoway, alongside the Shore-based Power Supply System (SPSS).
The E-LUV will be powered by a 2400 kWh Octopus High Energy battery system from EST-Floattech. This collaboration has received a boost from Coastal Workboats securing a £6 million grant from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC). The grant aims to facilitate the demonstration of the UK’s pioneering commercial electric workboat and its associated charging station.
Coastal Workboats’ Chief Engineering Manager Luke Parnell highlighted the safety features of the Octopus Series, stating, “Our attraction to the Octopus Series quite simply comes down to safety. EST-Floattech have produced a class-approved product that brings to market a level of safety unseen previously. In particular, the passive nature of the heat dissipation system represents a marked step forward in safety, particularly for an application in the marine environment.”
The CMDC3, the third funding round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, has allocated a total of £60m to 19 flagship projects supported by 92 UK organisations, aiming to drive real-world demonstration R&D projects for clean maritime solutions.
