Stockholm shipping company Waxholmsbolaget has launched its first hybrid ice-going passenger ferry, powered by innovative hybrid electric propulsion by Danfoss Editron Oy.

The 27.5m vessel, designed and built by Baltic Workboats, is serving the Stockholm archipelago (Sweden) and is built to transport up to 150 passengers at a time. The electrified ice-class ferry will help the city of Stockholm achieve its target of becoming a fossil fuel-free city by 2040, while providing more comfortable transportation for passengers with lower noise and vibration levels.

Operating in Ice with Batteries

As the ferry will be operating all-year-round, it has been specifically designed to be able to operate in ice up to 25 cm thick. The vessel operates with two diesel engines and a battery pack, creating a hybrid power plant providing clean power to propulsion. With good weather conditions, the ferry can operate with one diesel engine and the battery pack system, further minimising emissions.

The hybrid propulsion system is integrated into a single common unit controlled by Baltic Workboats’ monitoring and alarm system. The vessel is also equipped with an exhaust cleaning elective catalyst reduction system to further reduce emissions.

Hybrid Drive Trains with Permanent Magnet Electrical Motors

The vessel is equipped with a Danfoss Editron marine system, which consists of two hybrid drive trains with permanent magnet electrical motors and generators. The system is half the size of a conventional, diesel-electric propulsion system, making it the most compact and lightweight on the market. Editron’s highly-efficient permanent magnet machines cut fuel and running costs, resulting in significantly reduced CO2 emissions and payback period.

This is the second partnership between Danfoss Editron and Baltic Workboats, following the delivery of a hybrid patrol ship to the Estonian border authorities earlier this year.