Busan Port Authority has placed South Korea’s first state-owned all-electric passenger ferry, the e-Green-ho, into regular service, according to ABB’s statement.
BPA will use the new vessel for harbour tours, replacing the ageing Saenuri-ho after 28 years.
Built by Kangnam Shipbuilding, e-Green-ho is a 309-gross-tonne, 40-metre, two-deck catamaran with capacity for 88 passengers and a maximum speed of 17 knots. The vessel operates on two 1,068-kWh battery packs powering ABB’s Onboard DC Grid and PEMS systems.
The packs can be recharged at 500 kW, requiring about 90 minutes for a full charge that enables roughly two hours of zero-emission sailing. While berthed, the ferry uses an optical communication link for automatic charging control. BPA notes it is the first harbour guidance vessel in the government fleet to receive eco-friendly ship certification.
The initiative contributes to South Korea’s “2030 Green Ship-K Promotion Strategy”, which targets 528 green ships—388 public and 140 private—by 2030.
Busan Port Authority (BPA) is a government-affiliated entity responsible for managing and developing Busan Port’s facilities, logistics systems and public-interest maritime services.
Kangnam Shipbuilding is a South Korea–based shipbuilder known for constructing composite and specialised vessels, including naval craft and customised commercial ships.
ABB is a global technology group incorporated in Switzerland that develops electrification, automation and digital systems for industrial, transport and infrastructure sectors. It operates through multiple business divisions with global R&D, manufacturing and service networks.