Corvus Energy, a Norway-based company specializing in energy storage, has been awarded a contract to equip the Magellan Discoverer with a battery energy storage system, marking it as the first hybrid diesel-electric vessel to be built in South America. The vessel, destined for zero-emission operation, will feature Corvus Energy’s Orca Energy Storage System. It is being constructed at the Chilean shipyard Astilleros y Servicios Navales S.A. (ASENAV) for the cruise operator Antarctica 21.
The 93-meter vessel, capable of accommodating 163 passengers, is designed with the latest sustainable technologies. These include energy regeneration systems in lifts and heat exchangers to capture warm air before it’s expelled. The battery system will integrate into ABB’s comprehensive power plant solution for the ship.
This hybrid-electric propulsion will enable the Magellan Discoverer to meet the strict Tier III emission standards. Dick Bjorkqvist, ABB Marine & Ports’ Global Segment Manager for Cruise, expressed pride in contributing to South America’s first hybrid vessel alongside Corvus Energy. Similarly, Ole-Jacob Irgens, Executive Vice President of Corvus Energy, highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting the electrification of shipping in South America, leveraging their experience from over a thousand projects worldwide.
The Magellan Discoverer is scheduled to join the Antarctica21 fleet for the 2026-27 Antarctic season, operating from King George Island and covering areas such as the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. This addition will be the second sustainable expedition cruise ship for Antarctica21, following the already operational Magellan Explorer.
Corvus Energy’s role in the growing interest in hybrid and electric propulsion in Latin America is evident in their recent projects for battery systems in Panama and Argentina, along with other sales endeavors across the continent. The company has also achieved type approval from the classification society DNV for the cyber security notation of its Orca energy storage system’s control and monitoring system.
