Rogaland: Construction kicks-off on world´s first fully electric fast ferry

The construction of "Medstraum" the world's first fully electric fast ferry, has begun. The boat will operate a multi-stop commuter route into Stavanger, Rogaland from spring 2022.

The fast ferry has room for about 150 passengers, will be 31 meters long and nine meters wide. It will be equipped with two electric motors and a battery with a capacity of 1.5 MWh and a charging power of over 2MW. This will be the world's first fully electric fast ferry classified according to the international HSC code (High-Speed Crafts). As the TrAM project's demo vessel, the boat will enter a route between Stavanger, the city islands and Hommersåk in the spring of 2022. The vessel is designed for a service speed of 23 knots and has been given the appropriate name “Medstraum” (Co-current).

The EU funded Horizon 2020 TrAM project was initiated by the business cluster NCE Maritime CleanTech and is coordinated by the public transport company Kolumbus.

- TrAM's goal is to develop new module-based design and production methods for fast boats with zero emissions that will reduce costs and delivery time, says project manager Mikal Dahle in Kolumbus.

- Rogaland County Council has a strategy for a drastic reduction of emissions for all ferry routes in the county. The TrAM project shows what is possible for the public transport of the future - with zero emissions to the environment, says county mayor of Rogaland, Marianne Chesak.

The TrAM project also includes the development of two replicator vessels, one for passenger transport on the Thames in London and one for inland waterways in Belgium.