Construction commenced in Norway for a fully electric
passenger fast ferry, which is being called the first of its kind in the world.
The vessel, which is due to enter service in the spring of 2022, is the first
of three as part of a project to develop new modular methods for the design and
production of zero-emission fast ferries. The first three ferries will be
operated as demonstration models to validate the project’s goal to reduce
investment costs and delivery time for sustainable inshore passenger
transportation.
Equipped to carry approximately 150 passengers, the catamaran
vessel will be approximately 100 feet long with a beam of 30 feet. Named
Medstraum (Norwegian for “with electricity”) the ferry will be equipped with
two electric motors and a 1.5 MWh capacity battery with charging power of more
than 2 MW. The vessel is designed for a service speed of 23 knots.
Known as the TrAM project, it was initiated by industry
cluster organization, NCE Maritime CleanTech, and is being coordinated by
Kolumbus, the independent mobility services arm of Rogaland County Council in
Norway.
According to the project organizers, this will be the
world’s first fully electric and zero-emission fast ferry classed in accordance
with the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Crafts (HSC Code). As the
TrAM project’s demonstrator vessel, it will begin a trial passenger service
between the city of Stavanger, Norway, and surrounding communities and islands
in spring 2022 to test and validate the project findings.
The project scope from TrAM also includes the development of
two further vessels, one for passenger operations on the River Thames in London
and the other for deployment on inland waterways in Belgium.
Hege Økland, CEO of NCE Maritime CleanTech, emphasized that
electric-powered high-speed vessels are highly relevant for urban areas all
over the world. “Streamlined manufacturing is a very important factor as it
increases the attractiveness of such vessels in terms of cost and footprint. In
addition to their green credentials, they also support the renewed use of
inshore waterways in Europe for freight and passenger transport,” she said.