Recently, the world’s first hybrid solar-powered inland vessel, the “Blue Marlin,” jointly developed by Dutch offshore solar innovation company Wattlab and German logistics firm HGK Shipping, was officially launched and put into service. The delivery of the new vessel marks another breakthrough in hybrid ship technology, with its innovation lying in not only using solar power for onboard systems but also for high-voltage propulsion.
The “Blue Marlin” is equipped with 192 solar panels, which can generate up to 35 kilowatts of power under optimal conditions, simultaneously supporting both the ship’s electric propulsion system and its domestic power needs. This solar setup works alongside four diesel generators to achieve “peak shaving,” avoiding the activation of additional generators during high energy consumption and thereby reducing fuel use and emissions.
This is not HGK Shipping’s first venture into solar technology. In 2024, Wattlab and HGK Shipping collaborated to develop the “MS Helios,” a 135-meter-long dry bulk carrier that set a Guinness World Record for the “largest solar array on an inland vessel” with its 312 solar panels. However, the “MS Helios” solar system was only capable of powering low-voltage onboard equipment.
