Torghatten orders LNG-battery ferry quintet
The vessels, with a capacity for 594 passengers and 180 cars, will ply the Halhjem-Sandvikvåg route afer Torghatten was awarded an eight-year (plus extension option) concession for the service. They will each be powered by three nine-cylinder Bergen C26:33 engines. The supplier of the battery systems, to be arranged with capability for fast shore charging, has yet to be disclosed.
The vessel designer, Multi Maritime, noted that “major effort has been put in to design energy efficient hull lines and systems onboard, as well as good sea keeping and manoeuvring capabilities”.
The ferries are understood to be the first newbuild LNG-battery vessels. Rival Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 launched Fannefjord, a gas-electric vessel converted to an LNG-hybrid, in early 2016. Rolls-Royce also ran a sea trial of an LNG-battery configuration las year, onboard the Island Offshore platform supply vessel Island Crusader.
Typical service speed for the route will be 17-18 knots and the 6,850gt, 20.7m beam double-ended ferries will be classed by DNV GL. The Bergen engines are scheduled for delivery from December.
