Ulstein Verft and Color Line have signed a Letter of Intent for the construction of a new hybrid vessel which is said to be the largest of its kind in the world.
The vessel is planned to service Sandefjord-Stromstad from the start of the summer in 2019, it will be designed by Fosen.
“This is an important milestone for us and we are very pleased that we have been chosen as a partner in this very exciting project,” said Guvnor Ulstein, CEO of the group.
The vessel, titled Color Hybrid, will be a plug-in hybrid, where the batteries are recharged via a power cable with green electricity from its own shore facilities. The batteries can also be recharged on board by the ship’s generators.
It will have almost double capacity as M/S “Bohus”, which is scheduled to be phased out when the new ferry will be put into operation.
The ship will have full battery power into and out of the fjord to Sandefjord. It will therefore not give emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or nitrogen and sulphur compounds in this area.
Trond Kleivdal of Color Line said: “The signing of the LOI represents a significant step to realize the world’s largest plug-in hybrid ship. It is very gratifying that the Norwegian shipbuilding industry has proven its competitiveness internationally.”
He added: “Our ambition is to be a leader in European short sea shipping and “Color Hybrid” is a new proof of this. The focus on a new vessel with new green technology happens partly because the company, through the Government’s maritime strategy, has received approximately identical conditions as their competitors in the Nordic region.”
The world’s largest plug-in hybrid ferry will be 160 metres long and have a capacity of 2,000 passengers and about 500 cars.
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