Norwegian Ship Design Company has secured a shipyard contract to construct two of the “world’s largest” hydrogen-powered ships.
Set to be developed in collaboration with Norwegian companies Torghatten Nord and Myklebust Shipyard, the ‘hydrogen ferry to Vestfjorden’ project will finally begin construction after being in the works for five years.
Two 117-metre-long ferries will be capable of carrying 120 cars and 599 passengers, both installed with 6400kW of fuel cells with associated auxiliary systems. The hydrogen will be stored onboard in a compressed form.
In addition, they will feature a multi-hybrid propulsion system with hydrogen-electric as the primary mode and diesel-electric as the secondary mode.
The ferries will operate on the outer Vestfjorden in Lofoten, “one of the most challenging ferry routes in Norway.” H2 View understands that hydrogen-powered passenger transportation of this range “has not been conducted anywhere else in the world.”
Norwegian Ship Design Co. CEO, Gjermund Johannessen, said, “Extensive safety analyses have been conducted for the onboard hydrogen system to ensure that the ferries are as safe as modern diesel ferries.
“Extensive model tests of the new hull design have also been conducted to ensure low energy consumption and good roll damping in the rough sea area that is the outer Vestfjorden.”
Norled put what it claimed to be the “world’s first” liquid hydrogen-powered ferry into operation last year. This was after it had received approval from the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA).
Read more:‘World’s first’ liquid hydrogen-powered ferry sets sail in Norway
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