Wärtsilä is to design and equip two new zero-emissions ferries for Norwegian operator Boreal Sjö. The ships will be built at Holland Shipyards in the Netherlands for delivery in autumn 2021.

The ship design is tailored to the operating and route profiles of the two double-ended shuttle ferries. Included in the design concept is the optimisation of energy consumption. Wärtsilä will also supply the thruster motors, batteries, onboard and shore-based battery charging equipment, the back-up generators, and various electrical systems. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard in the beginning of 2021.

The two ferry designs are not identical. One is for a 30 metres long vessel capable of carrying ten cars and approximately 100 passengers, while the other is for a 50 metres long vessel for 35 cars and 149 passengers, including crew. The ferries will serve the Launes – Kvellandstrand – Launes, and Abelnes – Andabeløy – Abelnes routes in Norway.

In between trips, shore power will be used to rapidly recharge the ferries’ batteries, allowing day-round operations on electric power. For emergency cases, back-up generators are installed, which are capable of running on bio-diesel.

‘These battery-powered ferries represent the future in environmental sustainability, and their design is the result of the years of R&D that Wärtsilä has invested in smart marine solutions to lower the carbon footprint of shipping,’ says René Zuidam, Account Manager, Newbuild Sales, Wärtsilä Marine.

‘Both Wärtsilä and Holland Shipyards Group have extensive experience in the electrification of vessels and a shared vision to provide sustainable solutions to the transport sector,’ says Marco Hoogendoorn, Director, Holland Shipyards. ‘The combined expertise of both organisations form an excellent base for a valuable and successful cooperation.’