Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy unveiled its swappable containerised marine battery system at SMM 2026 in Hamburg, presenting the technology to the global maritime market for the first time.
AYK says the system is the world’s first swappable containerised marine battery. The company confirmed it is already receiving orders while the battery progresses through the class approval process, having successfully completed the New Technology Qualification (TQ) stage.
For new technologies, TQ provides a structured process for demonstrating that the technology is sufficiently mature before progressing to full class approval.
AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger said the containerised battery technology changes how marine batteries can be installed, deployed and operated.
“We are very proud to bring this innovation to the global marine market,” he said. “A vast amount of engineering time and investment has gone into this. The AYK containerised battery will simplify installation, reduce engineering complexity, lower project costs and speed up implementation. The system also removes the need for a dedicated battery room which can be a highly complex engineering job and significant cost.”
Kruger said the system can be either swapped between voyages or permanently installed, depending on operational requirements.
“The beauty is in the ease and flexibility of use,” he said. “Our containerised batteries can be stacked onshore and charged off-site to be transported to ports when required. They can then be loaded onto vessels at speed and tailored to voyage energy requirements, perhaps loading dozens of batteries at a time to meet short sea fully electric requirements in the EU for example to help meet ETS standards.
“It can further be used to deliver temporary hotel-load power while vessels are in port, reducing emissions, or operate as a swappable system that allows batteries to be exchanged between voyages. It can also be permanently installed for hybrid or fully electric vessels.”
Kruger said the system features eight independent levels of safety, with IP67 protection and an A60 fire rating.
AYK Energy is primarily targeting the ferry, RoPax and passenger vessel markets, although the system is also suitable for tugboats, feeder vessels, hybrid commercial craft, fully electric vessels and other workboats requiring battery power.
“We firmly believe our technology will remove the barriers to electrification, make battery technology easier to adopt, and as a result accelerate maritime decarbonisation,” Kruger said.
“The system we have developed combines safety, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, which we believe are the three pillars that will support the accelerated electrification of the sector.”
AYK Energy says it has previously pioneered LFP battery chemistry in the marine sector and was the first company to secure marine certification for LFP batteries with DNV.