Electrification contract for Canadian icebreaker

Swedish maritime battery company Echandia has secured a contract from ABB to supply a 3.7 MWh battery system for a new vessel to be used by the Canadian Coast Guard.

The hybrid icebreaker vessel will be built at Helsinki Shipyard, with the project marking Echandia’s first entry into the Canadian market.

The icebreaker will combine conventional propulsion with advanced battery technology to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency in demanding Arctic conditions.

“This contract is a significant milestone for Echandia. It not only opens the door to a new and strategically important market, but also underscores the trust placed in our technology by industry leaders like ABB and the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Echandia CEO Torbjörn Bäck.

Electrification and automation multinational ABB selected Echandia based on the performance of its lithium-titanate oxide (LTO)-based battery system for vessels operating in extreme environments with limited space.

“Echandia offered a competitive solution based on lifetime, reliability and safety, so in the end, it was an easy choice for us,” said Samuli Hänninen, Global Segment Manager, Icebreaking Ships at ABB’s Marine & Ports division.

Delivery of the battery system is scheduled for the second half of 2026, with the vessel expected to enter service by 2028.

Echandia is becoming known as a key player in the electrification of the global maritime industry, with its battery systems ordered and delivered to almost 100 vessels worldwide, including passenger ferries, ROPAX (wheeled cargo vessels), offshore support vessels, tugboats, platforms and naval ships.

Image caption: Echandia battery room. Image courtesy of Echandia.