By Joshua Stein

ABB Ltd. said Thursday that it has signed a contract with Busan-based shipbuilder Haemin Heavy Industries Co. to power the first domestic zero-emissions passenger ferry in South Korea.

The Swiss engineering company said its technology will ensure that the battery output is delivered to the ferry efficiently, while making the battery more reliable and increasing fault tolerance.

Two 1,068 kilowatt-hour battery packs will power the ferry, which will allow for up to four return journeys before recharging. The ferry is scheduled to be rolled out in 2022.

The vessel supported by ABB will run between the northern and southern ports in the city of Busan, ABB said. The company added that it has signed an additional contract with Haemin to work together on future vessel projects.

South Korea has pledged to replace 140 state-owned conventionally powered ferries with vessels powered by green energy by 2030.

ABB didn't disclose the financial terms of the contract.

Write to Joshua Stein at joshua.stein@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-28-21 0420ET