Indian boatbuilder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CLS) has been awarded a contract to supply two autonomous electric ferries to Norwegian operator ASKO Maritime, with an option on a further two identical vessels.
The project is partially funded by the Norwegian government with a goal of emission-free transport of goods across the Oslo fjord. The shipyard says that the 67m vessels will initially be delivered as piloted electric ferries, each equipped with an impressive 1,846kWh capacity battery system. The autonomous capability will then be subject to testing and validation before pilotless operations commence. Each ferry will have a capacity of 16 tractor/trailer units.