June 2018 start for Geiranger Fjordservice’s new electric ferry

Norway’s Geiranger Fjordservice will have a new electric ferry in service from June.

Developed with an outside deck and large lounge windows to give passengers the best view of the fjords, waterfalls and mountains in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geirangerfjord, the low-wash passenger catamaran will also provide a personal audio guide available in 12 languages.

Certified for 147 passengers and three crew for operations in open seas, the 24-metre-long design will be built by Maritime Partners.

Able to be fitted with fixed pitch propellers, waterjet, IPS and CP propellers, the twin engines deliver a top speed of 30 knots. More than 50 per cent of the boat will be built from recycled marine-grade aluminium and can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle.

The vessel has a total fuel capacity of 2,000 litres, fresh water capacity of 200 litres and waste water of 1,000 litres. 

The largest single boat contract in Maritime Partners’ history, the boatbuilder has rebuilt its production hall to make room for the catamaran.