Construction completed on first of three new battery-powered ferries for Norled

Singapore shipbuilder Sembcorp Marine has completed the first of three identical battery-powered Ro-Pax vessels ordered by Norwegian ferry operator Norled.

The LMG Marin-designed Hella has a length of 82.4 metres and capacity for 300 passengers and crew and up to 80 vehicles.

The ferry will operate normally on lithium-ion batteries that deliver a service speed of 10 knots. As an alternative, it can run on combined battery-diesel hybrid backup mode.

Sembcorp said the batteries will be charged and recharged using green hydro-electric power.

Hella will operate on Norled’s shortsea Hella-Vangsnes-Dragsvik connections.

The final two ferries in the series are scheduled to be completed within the year.