The shipping company GC Rieber Shipping plans to order an all-electric, battery-powered shortsea newbuild, with financial support from the Norwegian government.
Through its subsidiaries GC Rieber Shipping and GC Rieber Minerals, the Bergen-based GC Rieber Group has signed a letter of intent for the construction with Franzefoss Minerals, another Norwegian company.
GC Rieber Shipping’s subsidiary, Polar Energy Shipco, has received a grant from the state funding institution Enova to support the construction of the specialized vessel, as GC Rieber announced. The initiative is part of Norway’s broader efforts to achieve emission-free maritime transport and represents “an important milestone in sustainable logistics”.
“Enova’s support will enable us to accelerate the transition to zero-emission shipping,” said Einar Ytredal, CEO of GC Rieber Shipping.
The vessel will be developed in close cooperation with the cargo owners, GC Rieber Minerals and Franzefoss Minerals. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the economic and ecological viability of battery-electric propulsion in coastal freight transport. A letter of intent has also been signed with K. Sætre & Sønner, a company specializing in the transport of bulk goods and general cargo in the North Sea.
The newbuild is reportedly optimized for shortsea shipping along the Norwegian coast and will feature advanced battery systems and shore power integration. The project aims to generate both development and operational experience with battery-electric systems, potentially serving as a blueprint for the broader adoption of clean technologies across the company’s fleet.
“This project is an important prerequisite for us to enable low-emission transportation of salts and minerals,” said Per Gunnar Syrdalen , Chief Commercial Officer at GC Rieber Minerals. “We believe that a future-oriented partnership between the cargo owners is the key to a net-zero solution in maritime transport. The fact that our sister company is participating and taking the lead is a bonus and makes this possible.”
