Hanwha Power Receives AiP for 1,700-TEU Battery-Propelled Container Ship Design

ABS approval granted; certificate presented in Norway
Fully electric propulsion design powered by 151-MWh battery system
Basic design also completed for a 1,000-TEU vessel

Hanwha Power said on October 23 that it had received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design of a 1,700-TEU battery-propelled container ship. A TEU is a unit representing one 20-foot container.

Officials from Hanwha Power and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) pose for a photo at a ceremony presenting the Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate for a 1,700-TEU battery-powered container ship in Bergen, Norway, on the 22nd (local time). Hanwha Power

The certificate presentation ceremony took place on October 22 (local time) at the Marine Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cell Conference & Exhibition (MHE 2026) in Bergen, Norway. Hwang Jong-gyu, in charge of technical solutions at Hanwha Power, and key ABS officials attended.

The approved design uses a fully electric propulsion system powered by a battery energy storage system (ESS) with a capacity of approximately 151 megawatt-hours (MWh). It uses containerized batteries to provide propulsion power and is designed to eliminate direct carbon emissions during operation by connecting to port charging infrastructure. A key feature is its use of containerized batteries that can be loaded onto the ship, making more efficient use of space.

Hanwha Power plans to expand its business in battery-powered electric-propulsion ships based on this approval. It has also completed the basic design for a 1,000-TEU battery-propelled container ship and plans to develop a lineup of vessels that can meet a range of operating conditions and customer requirements.

The company said it may also consider applying financial and operational models, such as battery leasing and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), as it moves toward commercialization. These models are intended to reduce the upfront investment shipowners must bear when acquiring a vessel.

Hanwha Power established its Ship Solutions Division in 2023 and is pursuing businesses including ship conversions, the transition to eco-friendly fuels, and improvements in energy efficiency.

“Receiving ABS AiP is an important milestone in extending Hanwha Power’s eco-friendly ship technology capabilities to the field of fully electric-propulsion vessels powered by large-capacity batteries,” said Hwang Jong-gyu, in charge of technical solutions. “With integrated solutions combining electric propulsion and containerized battery technology, we will respond to the next-generation zero-carbon maritime transport market.”

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