The MV Nukumi is breaking new ground as the first self-unloading bulk carrier in Canada to be outfitted with solar panels. As part of a three-year collaborative research project with Innovation maritime, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Polytechnique Montréal, and Nergica—supported by the Government of Québec—CSL aims to evaluate the performance and viability of solar power on ships operating in the challenging conditions of the Gulf and St. Lawrence River. The pilot solar installation on the Nukumi, which already features a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, will help assess how factors like ice, snow, and maintenance impact renewable energy integration in maritime settings.
