Norwegian shipping group Eitzen has signed a contract with China’s Zhejiang Dongpeng Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. to build two of what are expected to become the world’s largest fully battery-powered container ships.
The two vessels, each with a capacity of 900 TEU and more than 100 MWh of battery storage, are scheduled for delivery in 2028 before entering service in 2029. They will operate on a zero-emission route linking Oslo, Gothenburg and Hamburg, with a range of 500–600 nautical miles.
Although the ships will be built in China, their lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems will be produced at Eitzen’s Zen factory in Tønsberg, Norway. According to the company, the batteries offer roughly twice the energy density by volume compared with comparable solutions.
The project has received strong backing from Norway’s state-owned clean energy agency Enova, which has awarded grants totalling NOK 400 million. The latest funding will also support plans for two additional battery-powered container ships, bringing the planned fleet to four vessels.
According to Zen, replacing conventional ships with the four electric vessels could cut more than 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, supporting Norway’s climate targets.
“The Eitzen Group sees great potential in the electrification of regional shipping,” said CEO Fridtjof C. Eitzen, noting that battery prices have fallen by more than 80 percent over the past decade.
The contract also paves the way for new charging infrastructure at the Port of Oslo. The port plans to build a high-voltage shore power facility to recharge the vessels, marking another step towards establishing green shipping corridors between Norway and continental Europe.
