FinFerries enlists Siemens for battery ferry

The 90m loa, 16m beam vessel is being built at Polish shipyard Crist. It will have capacity for 90 cars and will sail the 1.6km route between Nauvo and Parainen.

The ship will be driven by Siemens’ BlueDrive PlusC, comprising energy storage system, variable speed drives and an integrated alarm and monitoring system. Siemens will also provide its EcoMain remote access monitoring system and a WiFi solution to connect with shore-based charging stations, securing automated fast charging.

The ship’s energy storage system will be charged at each side of the crossing, with a shore connection to the local grid. The ferry will have the possibility to use a diesel engine to support the onboard batteries as an extra boost when breaking ice.

The Finnish project follows experience gained by Siemens with the world’s first battery-powered car ferry, Ampere, which went into service in Norway in May last year. Siemens noted that Ampere’s operator Norled has reduced its fuel bill by 60% as a result of the battery installation.

“We’ve chosen Crist to deliver the vessel because of the competitive price and their ability to provide us with a vessel of excellent quality,” said FinFerries CEO Mats Rosin. “Siemens has plenty of experience and an excellent reputation with a similar application on the Norwegian ferry.”

Juergen Brandes, CEO of Siemens’ process industries and drives division, added: “Battery-powered ferries offer a great new way to provide sustainable, efficient and reliable water transportation. This project will be another milestone in environmentally-friendly technologies.”