Building on its widely-built CIP 3800 coastal platform, Dutch ship designer Conoship International is introducing a battery powered option, in response to the transition to zero-emission short-sea shipping, which requires practical, low-risk solutions.
While alternative fuels continue to mature, battery-electric power is considered to offer an immediate route to 100% emission-free operations for dedicated coastal corridors, fixed shuttle loops, and environmentally sensitive waters.
With numerous vessels of the CIP-series already built and trading, the platform’s optimised hull lines and low resistance profiles have been validated both in model tanks and real-world operations. This proven hydrodynamic performance directly translates into lower power demands per nautical mile, making large-scale battery storage commercially feasible for targeted short-sea operations.
Maarten Sickler, Sales Director, Conoship International, said: “The strength of the CIP3800 lies in its versatility. Shipowners don’t need to adopt unproven, experimental ship designs to explore zero-emission options. By building on a platform with an outstanding track record at sea, operators retain all the core advantages of the CIP series: optimised hold volume, low fuel/power demand, and building flexibility. All this while unlocking electric capability for specific trade loops.”
Configured with a high-capacity 40 MWh battery installation, the vessel offers an operational range of 350 naut miles at 10 knots or up to 650 naut miles at 8 knots (including sea margin and hotel load allowances). The design retains its signature single, box-shaped cargo hold design. It comes with a capacity of 4,737m3 and an intake of 3,200t, making it suited for bulk commodities and project cargo. To prevent excessive trim and eliminate the need for extra deadweight water ballast, the battery plant is distributed across dedicated forward and aft battery compartments.
While energy storage systems add lightship weight, the complete removal of HFO, MGO, lubricating oils, and sludge tanks offsets this difference. This ensures net usable payload remains competitive for short-sea trades. Built on Conoship’s modular design philosophy, the battery architecture accommodates different cell chemistries (such as high-density NMC or long-lifecycle LFP) depending on specific route requirements, lifetime cycle profiles, and shore-charging setups.
The electric CIP version is not intended as a direct replacement for other general cargo operations; rather, it is a specialized, zero-emission tool for short-sea routes where shore power infrastructure and fixed sailing schedules allow it.
To account for evolving shore power availability and unpredictable operational profiles, the battery-electric architecture can be integrated with a compact, downsized generator set, potentially running on sustainable drop-in biofuels, serving as an optional range extender or emergency take-home system.
Image: Conoship is offering a battery-powered option in its CIP 3800 series (source: Conoship International)
