World's first electrically-powered car ferry

Tue 15 Jan 2013, 09:56 GMT

World's first electrically-powered car ferry

Vessel's batteries will be recharged in the breaks between crossings.

Norwegian shipyard Fjellstrand and Siemens have developed the world's first electrically-powered car ferry [pictured]. The 80-meter vessel can carry 120 cars and 360 passengers.

From 2015 onwards, the vessel will serve the route between Lavik and Oppedal, across the Sognefjord - the largest fjord in Norway. The ship's batteries will be recharged in the breaks between crossings, a procedure which only takes 10 minutes.

The vessel currently serving this route uses on average one million liters of diesel a year and emits 570 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and 15 metric tonnes of nitrogen oxides.

The electrically-powered ferry was developed for submission to a competition organized by Norway's Ministry of Transport. As a reward for winning the competition, the shipping company Norled has been granted the license to operate the route until 2025.

Ferry Milestone Norway


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