Norwegian maritime investment group Eitzen has ordered two all-electric 900 TEU container vessels, advancing plans for one of the first large-scale electric container shipping networks on Northern European trades.
According to Splash247, the Oslo-based group's subsidiary Zen contracted Zhejiang Dongpeng Shipbuilding & Repairing Co to build the fully electric boxships. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in 24 months, with the second following three months later.
Vessel specifications and green corridor
The vessels will be powered by battery packs exceeding 100 MWh, providing a reported sailing range of 500 to 600 nautical miles. They will be deployed on a planned green shipping corridor linking Hamburg, Gothenburg, and Oslo, targeting shortsea container flows in the North Sea region.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel size | 900 TEU |
| Power source | Battery packs >100 MWh |
| Range | 500–600 nautical miles |
| Delivery | First: 24 months; second: 3 months later |
| Builder | Zhejiang Dongpeng Shipbuilding & Repairing Co |
| Corridor | Hamburg – Gothenburg – Oslo |
Funding and ecosystem
The project secured backing from Norway's state enterprise Enova, which awarded NOK200 million ($21 million) in funding as part of a zero-emission shipping programme. According to Zen, the newbuildings are designed as part of a broader ecosystem that combines vessels, charging infrastructure, energy management systems, fleet software, and future autonomous operating capabilities.
“We are not only building electric ships. We are building the infrastructure layer that makes electric shipping inevitable.” – Fridtjof Eitzen, co-founder and CEO of Zen.
The company stated that the project stems from years of work on marine batteries and vessel electrification, leading it to conclude that ships, charging networks, software, and operations must be developed as a single integrated system.
Implications for Northern European logistics
The vessels are expected to rank among the largest fully electric containerships entering commercial service. For freight forwarders and logistics operators on the Hamburg–Gothenburg–Oslo lane, this development signals a potential shift toward zero-emission shortsea container capacity. The charging infrastructure and integrated software platform may impact terminal planning and scheduling. Eitzen Group, through Zen, is focusing on electrification solutions covering vessels, battery systems, charging infrastructure, and digital operations for the shipping sector.
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