Holland and Belgium to launch electric barges with containers

Holland and Belgium are to launch the first autonomous container-carrying electric barges in the world, which will produce no harmful gases.

The electric boat for transport of containers has been nicknamed Tesla of the Canals and will be able to transport 24 containers of up to 425 tons from ports in Amsterdam, Antwerp and Rotterdam.

The five barges, which were launched this summer, should considerably reduce the use of diesel trucks carrying the same load.

The boats, made by the Dutch manufacturer Port Liner, will be charged with the help of batteries allowing for 15 hours of non-stop charging.

– The containers are charged onshore by carbon-free energy provider Eneco, which sources solar power, windmills and renewables – the company says.

The barges are 52 meters long and 6.7 meters wide and feature 8% more space compared to traditional ones. Port Liner plans to launch six 110-m boats later on.

Larger boats will have the capacity of 280 containers and be able to go on for 30 hours without charging. It is estimated that this might reduce CO2 emission by 18,000 tons a year, B92.net reports.

The EU has subsidized the project with over GBP 6 million, along with additional contributions of the ports which will handle the barges.

These barges are technically capable of carrying bigger loads as well, but are prevented from doing so by low bridges in Belgium and Holland.

electric barges with containers

Tesla of the Canals

Amsterdam

Antwerp

Rotterdam

Port Liner