Swedish steelmaker SSAB, through its distributor Tibnor, will supply steel for four additional electric service vessels ordered by Norwegian shipping company AQS Rederi from Salthammer Batbyggeri, a Norwegian shipyard. The new order brings the total number of vessels in the programme to six.
The first two Coastern 28eH vessels have already been completed and launched. The four additional vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2027-2028, as AQS continues its transition towards a fully electric fleet.
The vessels will be built at Salthammer’s yard in Vestnes, Norway, using steel supplied by SSAB through Tibnor. Designed by Tomra Engineering, they are tailored for aquaculture and coastal service operations and will feature electric propulsion, high-capacity battery systems and shore-charging capability.
The collaboration began in 2024, when AQS ordered two electric vessels. Following their delivery, the company expanded the programme with four additional units. The six vessels are expected to use approximately 900 tons of steel and will operate along the Norwegian coastline.
SSAB said the project demonstrates how steel produced with virtually no fossil carbon emissions from the steelmaking process can help reduce the carbon footprint across the wider value chain, including maritime and shipbuilding applications.
SSAB is a Nordic and North American steel producer specializing in high-strength steels, quenched and tempered steels, strip, plate and tubular products. The company is transforming its Nordic operations by replacing blast furnace production with electric arc furnaces, aiming to significantly reduce carbon emissions while maintaining an annual steel production capacity of approximately 8.8 mln tons.