11.7 Million Euros to all-electric passenger vessel

Rogaland County Municipality and NCE Maritime CleanTech has been awarded 11.7 Million Euros to develop an all-electric high-speed passenger vessel to operate between Stavanger and Hommersåk on the west coast of Norway. The project will also conduct two studies for the same type of vessel in London and the inland waterways of Belgium.

Initiator of the project is industry cluster NCE Maritime CleanTech. Rogaland County Municipality is a partner in the cluster, and the project coordinator. The project will result in a new fully-electric high-speed vessel with zero emissions. In addition, new manufacturing methods will contribute to 25 per cent lower production costs and 70 per cent lower engineering costs. Rogaland County Municipality’s application beat more than 100 other applicants in the competition.

World leader

“I’m proud that we receive financial support from the EU. It is an important and major recognition of our collaboration with the industry cluster and vessel operator Kolumbus to develop a zero emission high-speed vessel. This means that Rogaland, Western Norway and Norway, with the county municipality at the forefront, can become a world leader in the development of this type of technology. This is a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is a focus area for the county municipality as well,” says chairman of the county council Solveig Ege Tengesdal.

The project will also conduct two studies for the same type of vessel in London and Belgium to explore opportunities for similar zero emission vessels on selected routes in Europe. Partners include Thames Clippers, which operates on the Thames River in London. 

Will revolutionize Norwegian shipbuilding

Maritime CleanTech encompasses 75 Norwegian companies from the entire maritime value chain and focuses on developing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for the maritime industries.

“This is a big day for the cluster and our partners, and an important recognition of our leading position within green and smart solutions for the ocean industry. The project is revolutionary both in terms of zero emission technology and manufacturing methods, and will strengthen the participants competitiveness both nationally and internationally. It will also contribute to making electric-powered high-speed vessel competitive in terms of both cost and the environment,” says Hege Økland, General Manager, NCE Maritime CleanTech.

The Rogaland county municipality will contribute with NOK 5 million to a demonstration vessel, and has committed to putting int into service between Stavanger and Hommersåk. The vessel will be operated by Kolumbus and accommodate 150 passengers and 20 bicycles. It will operate at a speed of 23 knots.

The project is also supported by the Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway.

The following are also taking part in the project: Wärtsilä Holland (Netherlands), MBNA Thames Clippers (UK), University of Strathclyde (UK), Fraunhofer IEM (Germany), HSVA (Germany) and Waterwegen & Zeekanal NV (Belgium).

The project will commence in the spring when the contract with the European Commission has been signed and it has a duration of four years. The value of the allocation is 11,741,643 Euros, and work on the contract has started.