Yara debuts world's first autonomous electric container ship

Yara Birkeland, the world's first fully electric and autonomous container vessel, is moored in Oslo, Norway November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Victora Klesty

OSLO (Reuters) - The world's first fully electric and self-steering container ship, owned by fertiliser maker Yara, is preparing to navigate Norway's southern coast and play its part in the country's plans to clean-up its industry.

The Yara Birkeland, an 80-metre-long (87 yards) so-called feeder, is set to replace lorry haulage between Yara's plant in Porsgrunn in southern Norway and its export port in Brevik, about 14 km (8.7 miles) away by road, starting next year.