Wärtsilä and Cavotec join forces in development of integrated wireless charging and mooring system
Wärtsilä and Cavotec have signed an agreement to jointly develop the world’s first combined induction charging and automatic mooring system to be used in Wärtsilä’s ship designs. The new project’s integrated system will be capable of transferring more than 1 MW of electrical energy, which is some 300 times more than that of current chargers used by electric cars.
Wireless charging eliminates the cable connection between the vessel and shore, thereby securing and facilitating safe connections and disconnections. It also reduces maintenance since wear and tear to physical connection lines is eliminated. Similarly, damage to electrical outlets caused by seawater, snow and ice is also avoided.
Cavotec ’s mooring system is a vacuum-based automated mooring technology that eliminates the need for conventional mooring lines. Remote controlled vacuum pads recessed into, or mounted on the quayside, moor and release vessels in seconds.
“This is an exciting project and we are delighted to be partnering with Wärtsilä to make shipping cleaner, safer, and easier. The envisioned integrated wireless charging and mooring system will further the marine industry’s environmental profile,” says Ottonel Popesco, CEO of Cavotec Group.