Hanwha Power secures ABS approval for battery-powered containership

Hanwha Power has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design of a fully electric 1,700 TEU containership.

The certificate was presented on 22 October during the Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference & Exhibition 2026 in Bergen, Norway. Jong-kyu Hwang, Vice President of Technology Solutions at Hanwha Power, attended the ceremony alongside senior ABS representatives.

The approved vessel concept incorporates a 151 MWh Energy Storage System as its primary source of propulsion power. Electricity stored in containerised battery units would power the vessel, with the batteries charged through port infrastructure.

Hanwha Power said the use of containerised battery units would allow them to be handled and stowed similarly to standard containers. The arrangement is intended to improve space utilisation, support flexible battery replacement and allow the system to be scaled according to operational requirements.

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