The world’s first fully electric zero-emission ferry to be classed as a high-speed craft is ready to start operations from Stavanger, Norway.
The vessel, named MS Medstraum was built at Fjellstrand shipyard and will be operated by Kolumbus between Stavanger, Byøyene, and Hommersåk from late summer 2022.
Project Manager at Kolumbus, Mikal Dahle said:We are very happy to finally get this flagship delivered. Kolumbus aims to be at the forefront of adopting new and environmentally technology. Medstraum will cut our emissions by 1500 tonnes a year, despite operating on our least energy-demanding route.
The pilot zero-emission vessel was built through the EU-funded TrAM-project, which was initiated by Maritime CleanTech. The ferry was also partly funded by Rogaland County Council.
The high-speed zero-emission ferry will operate at cruising speeds of 23 knots, with a max speed of 27 knots. It has a battery capacity of 1524 kWh and is fitted with two 550 kW electric engines.
Edmund Tolo, Head of Research and Development at Fjellstrand AS said:It’s been challenging building this ship, as it’s never been done before, but we’ve learned a lot. Fast ferries require a lot of energy so we needed to make Medstraum lighter and a lot more efficient than traditional fast ferries. We’re very happy and proud to have accomplished that. It is revolutionary that a vessel of this size can operate at 23 knots for an entire hour by electricity alone.
The world’s first fully electric ferry was built at the Fjellstrand shipyard in 2015. Now, approximately 70 emission-free ferries are in operation in Norway.
