Schottel to provide EcoPellers to Norwegian hybrid ferries

Propulsion specialist Schottel has been selected to fit eight newly built ferries with its new Schottel Rudder EcoPeller (SRE) for two Norwegian ferry lines. In cooperation with Multi Maritime, the Norwegian ship designer in charge of the projects, the SRE was chosen for three Fjord1 ferries with two 900kW SRE 340 CP each and five Torghatten Nord ferries with two 2,700kW SRE 560 CP each. “Our new ferry designs are the result of continuous efficiency optimisation,” said Gjermund Johannessen, CEO, Multi Maritime. ”Every potential efficiency increase and every optimisation of the energy consumption in terms of design, components and equipment has been exploited. The EcoPeller was chosen because we expect that it will fully support our targets.” All three Fjord1 vessels are due to be delivered in 2018. Two of them will operate the Brekstad-Valset route and the third will operate the Husavik-Sandvikvåg route. Fjord1 will operate the Brekstad-Valset route in 2019. The three new MM62FD EL ferries will each have a length of 66.4m, a width of 14.2m and a transport capacity of 199 persons and 50 vehicles. The main propulsion will be provided by batteries that are recharged via a docking; additional diesel engines will ensure mobility. The five Multi Maritime-designed MM125FD LNG ferries for Torghatten Nord will service the Halhjem-Sandvikvåg route. With a length of 134m and width of 20.7m, the ferries will be able to accommodate up to 549 people and 180 cars. All five vessels are being built simultaneously by two shipyards for delivery by 2018. Vard Brevik is building two of the Torghatten vessels in Braila, Romania, and in Brevik, Norway. Schottel is supplying six further EcoPellers to Yalova in Turkey for Tersan Shipyard. The ferries have an LNG/electric-hybrid propulsion system, with additional batteries to be charged as a plug-in from the mainland.