MAN Cryo has been contracted by Norwegian ferry company Torghatten Nord to work on a project encompassing the design and engineering of two hydrogen-powered new-build ro-pax ferries.
Hydrogen ro-pax ferries
According to the companies, the new ferries will be approximately 120m long with capacity for 120 cars and 599 passengers. They will serve a near 100km open ocean crossing above the Arctic Circle.
The project forms part of a Norwegian government initiative to ensure that major vessels operating on the mainland Lofoten Islands crossing are emission-free.
Cryogenic equipment supplier MAN Cryo will provide the detail design for bunkering systems, hydrogen piping and vent masts for the vessels. MAN Cryo will also act as a system integrator for the hydrogen process plant, coordinating with other major suppliers in the project.
Torghatten Nord previously won the ‘Bodø – Værøy – Røst – Moskenes’ ferry tender in northern Norway. Two new vessels designed by The Norwegian Ship Design Company will be phased into the route with the hulls built by Cemre shipyard in Türkiye and towed to Myklebust shipyard in Norway for outfitting – all hydrogen equipment will also be installed in Norway. Operating on green, compressed hydrogen, both vessels are set for delivery to Torghatten Nord in 2026.
Sustainable marine goals
Eirik Olsen, operational director of Torghatten Nord, commented, “We are very pleased to have signed this contract with MAN Cryo. By this contract, we have extended our cooperation from LNG to also include hydrogen.”
Gjermund Johannessen, CEO of The Norwegian Ship Design Company, added, “We have been working with MAN Cryo on several projects in the past, and we know it as a forward-thinking and solution-oriented company. We look forward to continuing our good collaboration with MAN Cryo and to bringing their gas expertise on board the prestigious hydrogen ferry projects for Torghatten Nord.”
Henrik Malm, managing director of MAN Energy Solutions Sweden, said, “This new order underscores MAN Energy Solutions’ leadership in developing future-fuel systems for the maritime sector. With a strong focus on advanced engineering, tailored design and seamless integration capabilities, our specialist team at MAN Cryo is setting new standards in sustainable marine operations. In this way, we are contributing significantly to ‘Moving Big Things to Zero’, a testament to our vision for a cleaner, greener maritime future where innovation leads the way in reducing ecological footprints. Torghatten Nord is set to revolutionize ferry transportation with these vessels powered by green hydrogen, which will be a critical step toward achieving zero-emission operation.”
In related news, MAN Cryo’s design for an ammonia fuel-supply system to safely provide ammonia to marine-engine applications was recently awarded an Approval in Principle from classification societies DNV and Bureau Veritas. Click here to read the full story.