Wärtsilä has launched a complete concept for a series of shuttle ferries. The concept has been developed in line with the Norwegian government’s new environmental regulations for ferries emphasising the elimination of harmful emissions. This trend is also evident in a number of other countries. The ferries are designed to run in a battery-engine hybrid configuration where the fuel options are liquefied natural gas (LNG) or biofuel, or entirely on batteries.
The design characteristic focuses on high energy efficiency with low resistance, both above and below the water line. With the plug-in hybrid configuration, emissions are reduced by up to 50 percent. In plug-in operation, the fuel consumption is reduced by 100 percent compared to conventional installations, and all local emissions are completely eliminated.
The ferry series can accommodate 60 to 120 cars on a single car deck for quick and easy loading and unloading.
The concept has been developed through cooperation between Wärtsilä’s Ship Design and Electrical & Automation offices. In addition to this design concept for newbuilds, Wärtsilä can also provide hybrid solutions for retrofitting existing ferry propulsion units in order to meet the new regulations.
(Source: Wartsilä)
