ABB to power new hybrid ferry on Norway's fjords

ABB technology is to power a new carbon-fibre hybrid ferry that will operate on Nærøyfjord in Norway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Seasight, which will be owned and operated by The Fjords, is currently under construction at the Brødrene Aa yard in Norway and will be fitted with a compact and lightweight version of ABB’s Onboard DC Grid system. The solution will manage and control the energy flow between 40m ferry’s diesel engine, propeller and charging station. The Onboard DC Grid will transfer energy to the battery during charging, which will happen at both ends of the voyage, and while the diesel engines are running.

“Regulation means Norway is leading the world in terms of battery power for passenger ferries,” said Sindre Sætre, ABB’s director of Marine and Ports in Norway. “Globally battery power and hybrid technology is gaining importance in the maritime sector and we are delighted to be at the forefront of that process.”

Scheduled to begin operating in May 2016, Seasight will carry up to 400 tourists between Flåm and Gudvangen along the Nærøyfjord in the west of Norway, a distance of around 32km. Once the ferry has arrived in the most scenic part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed fjord, it will switch to battery power and operate at a speed of 10 knots. It is expected that the ferry will make around 700 voyages per year.

“This is one of the most exciting vessels we have ever constructed in terms of both aesthetics and technology,” said Anstein Aa from Brødrene Aa. “With ABB’s established reputation in the passenger maritime sector, we are extremely happy to have such an experienced partner in such an innovative project.”