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Vision of The Fjords, a futuristic carbon fibre tourist vessel operated by The Fjords DA, has won the coveted Ship of the Year 2016 accolade at SMM in Hamburg.

The 40-metre-long, 399-passenger capacity hybrid craft, which was completed by Brodrene Aa this summer, scooped the award for its unique approach to sustainable, sensitive and high-quality operations in the UNESCO world heritage-listed Naeroyfjord.

Rolf A. Sandvik, CEO of The Fjords, explained that the technology was painstakingly selected to set new environmental standards for the pristine habitat it operates within.

"We opted for a dual-fuel solution whereby we run diesel engines up to the entrance of the protected Naeroyfjord, before switching to silent-running, emission-free electric power. We also challenged the yard to create a special hull designed to minimise wake and thus reduce impact erosion on the vulnerable shoreline here," said Sandvik

"We want to put our customers at the heart of a unique voyage experience," he stressed, "but do so in an environmentally responsible manner. We believe the choices made here have set a new course for the future operations of our entire fleet... and hopefully all operators that sail here," Sandvik added.

The judges for Ship of the Year, which is run by Norwegian maritime publication Skipsrevyen, were won over by Brodrene Aa's bold design, but also by the vessel's high-tech features, such as its innovative propulsion system. It is based on a combination of two 749-kilowatt (kW) MAN main engines and two 150-kW Oswald electric motors, with ABB's onboard DC grid system managing and controlling the power between the diesel engines, propeller and charging station.

It is a configuration capable of delivering a speed of 19.5 knots, slowing down to a leisurely 8 knots to allow passengers to immerse themselves in the UNESCO-listed beauty that surrounds them.

The whole project was defined by collaboration, according to Sandvik, with an extensive list of suppliers, including MANCRAFT, Simrad, ABB and Naviguiding, amongst others, uniting to tailor the best available solutions.

"The Vision of the Fjords is a step forward, but it's only the start of the journey. We'll now look to expand and renew our fleet of seven tourist vessels, always choosing the best technological solutions in the market, ensuring we stay at the vanguard of responsible tourism long into the future," Sandvik remarked.

Vision of the Fjords began operating in July and is scheduled to complete around 700 voyages a year, running in all seasons.

Skipsrevyen runs its annual awards by asking readers for nominations, before an expert panel assesses vessels for the year's standout craft. The initiative launched in 1997, with recent winners including DOF Subsea's Skandi Africa (2015); Norled's electric ferry, Ampere (2014); and Subsea 7's Seven Viking (2013).

Facts - Vision of The Fjords:

- Length: 40 metres
- Width: 15 metres
- Materials: Carbon fibre sandwich
- Seats: 399
- Class: DNV light craft
- Main engine: 2x 749 kW
- El-motor: 2 x150 kW
- Propeller: CPP propeller
- Battery pack: 600 kWh