Wattlab signed a contract at Europort Rotterdam to equip the hatches of the BRF Froan with its onboard solar power system. For the Norwegian shipping company owned by Berge Rederi, this represents a milestone, as the vessel will be the world’s largest battery-powered bulk carrier.
The BRF Froan is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2026 and will transport marble from Brønnøy and Visnes to a production plant in Elnesvågen.
Bo Salet, co-founder and CEO of Wattlab, stated that “the vessel is currently under construction and will sail to Norway next summer. During a stop in Flushing, Netherlands, Wattlab will install the 96 Solar Flatracks in a single day. Production will begin in May at its new plant located in the Port of Rotterdam”.
Oivind Berge, owner of Berge Rederi, commented that “the knowledge that Bo Salet and David Kester have demonstrated about vessel operations was key in our decision-making process. Berge Rederi always seeks to innovate. We were already familiar with their recent project for a Dutch shipowner, which demonstrated not only the installation process, but also the performance and operation of the system under real conditions”.
The BRF Froan will feature two 24-meter by 4-meter rotating sails that will allow an average saving of 339 kW per trip. The 23.5 MWh battery pack will be charged at the loading port in Remman (Brønnøy) and at the unloading port in Elnesvågen. Shore power equipment will be installed at both terminals. Furthermore, the ship will be equipped with an electric crane to ensure emission-free loading operations.
