Norwegian coastal owner K. Sætre Rederi has ordered a new all-electric dry cargo vessel, doubling down on zero-emission operations along the Norwegian coast.

The 70-m ship has been contracted at Dutch yard Royal Bodewes, with delivery scheduled for March 2028. At the same time, Sætre has secured a long-term freight agreement with steel producer 7 Steel Nordic, tying the newbuild directly to steady cargo volumes once it enters service.

The vessel is designed to carry around 3,400–3,600 tonnes of cargo and will be fitted with a 13.3 MWh battery system, giving it an electric range of more than 270 nautical miles. That puts it among the longest-range electric cargo ships in its class and allows large stretches of the coast to be sailed without emissions, largely using existing charging infrastructure.

“This represents a major technological step for coastal shipping,” said Åge Sætre of K. Sætre Rederi. “With this range, we can operate large parts of the Norwegian coastline fully electric.”

The ship will be tailored to the transport needs of 7 Steel, moving steel products from Mo i Rana and supporting the company’s circular and low-emission logistics chain. Sætre and the ironworks have worked together for decades, with the vessel Rana Frakt having served the same trade for more than 30 years. The new ship is designed with a long service life in mind and is expected to take on a similar role for decades ahead.

The vessel will sail under the Norwegian flag and operate with Norwegian crew terms. Electrical integration and the propulsion package will be delivered by Haugesund-based SEAM, the project’s largest single supplier. The design focuses on efficiency, combining an optimised hull form, advanced hydrodynamics and smart energy management to stretch battery endurance and cut overall energy use.