Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Gondán has launched a new all-electric commuter ferry ordered by Transtejo and Soflusa (TTSL), a public transport company that serves the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon. The ferry is a sister of Cegonha-Branca, which was delivered to TTSL earlier this year.
The ferry has all-FRP construction, an LOA of 40.15 metres, a beam of 12 metres, a maximum draught of 1.65 metres, a depth of 3.13 metres, a displacement of 155 tonnes, and seating for 544 passengers – including those with limited mobility – on two decks.
The design of the ferry is based on a catamaran-type hull specifically optimised to make the most of the nearly two MWh of electrical energy stored in its two 930kWh lithium batteries, with extremely silent operation and no CO2 emissions.
Charging of the batteries to full capacity will be done at dedicated pierside facilities during embarkation and disembarkation. A full charge of the batteries will allow the vessel to operate continuously for up to 70 minutes at a cruising speed of 16 knots.
The new ferry belongs to a series that will replace TTSL’s older vessels that presently operate on Lisbon's Tagus River.
Although lighter than the vessels it will replace and therefore somewhat more sensitive to swells, the new ferry is stable enough that any discomfort felt by the passengers is greatly reduced.