Torghatten inks contract for new hybrid ferry

Stocznia Remontowa Shipbuilding, part of the Remontowa Holding capital group, has signed a contract with one of Norway’s largest shipping companies, Torghatten Mid, for the construction of a hybrid-powered passenger and car ferry.

The shipyard will build a fully equipped, modern double-ended ferry designed for sailing in the Norwegian fjords around the Dønna and Herøy islands. The vessel will be able to carry 249 passengers, 85 cars and up to six lorries at a time. Due to the area of operation, particular emphasis has been placed on minimising energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

The vessel, with the construction number B622, will be equipped with a hybrid propulsion system based on two azimuth thrusters equipped with permanent magnet electric motors. The latter will be powered by four generators capable of operating on 100% biodiesel, with a small battery pack to cover peak energy demand, enabling the generators to operate at optimal load to minimise fuel consumption. 

The shipyard said that within a few years of delivery, the air-cooled batteries are to be replaced by almost 15 times larger, water-cooled batteries, enabling the vessel to operate in fully electric mode. The ferry is being designed with this future expansion of energy storage in mind.

The Norwegian Ship Design Co is developing the technical documentation for the vessel, which is scheduled to be handed over to the shipowner in Q2 2028.

Stocznia Remontowa Shipbuilding has been working with companies from the Torghatten group for 15 years. The contracted vessel will be the 10th ferry built in Gdańsk for this shipowner.

Remontowa Shipbuilding has built six hybrid-powered ferries, with the seventh currently undergoing sea trials. It is building CMAL’s fully electric ferries as part of its small vessel replacement programme.