Construction begins on Norwegian zero-emission fast ferry

Construction has commenced on a new fully electric fast ferry at the facilities of Fjellstrand, a shipyard on the west coast of Norway.

The 31- by nine-metre Medstraum (named after the Norwegian phrase “med straum,” which means “with electricity”) will be capable of carrying around 150 passengers at a service speed of 23 knots.

The vessel is being built under the EU-funded Transport – Advanced and Modular (TrAM) Project.

Medstraum will be equipped with two electric motors and a 1.5MWh battery with a charging power of more than two MW.

The TrAM Project partners have claimed that this will be the world’s first fully electric and zero-emission fast ferry classed in accordance with the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code).

As the TrAM Project’s demonstrator vessel, Medstraum will begin a trial passenger service between the city of Stavanger and surrounding communities and islands in the spring of 2022 to test and validate the project findings.

The TrAM project was initiated by NCE Maritime CleanTech and is being coordinated by Kolumbus, the independent mobility services arm of Rogaland County Council.

The TrAM project scope also includes the development of two further vessels – one for passenger operations on the River Thames in London and the other for deployment on inland waterways in Belgium.