Construction has started in Türkiye on the first of four battery-powered autonomous double-ended ferries ordered by Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1.
The steel-cutting ceremony took place at Tersan Shipyard on October 11, 2024.
“This is a very exciting and innovative project, and it feels good to be underway at the shipyard,” Asbjørn Røyrvik , Project Manager, Fjord1, commented.
Ordered in February this year, the four ferries—designed by Norway’s HAV Design—are expected to be the first in the world to operate independently, without human intervention.
Specifically, the autonomy of the ferries will be able to handle everything from leaving the quay, crossing the fjord, and docking again, in addition to automated control for both on-board and ashore driving. Everything will be carefully monitored from the company’s new control center in Florø, according to Fjord1.
All ferries, which will be able to accommodate 399 passengers including crew members and 120 passenger cars each, are scheduled to be delivered during the first half of 2026.
Once operational, they will operate between Lavik and Oppedal in Norway from September 1, 2026. Implementation of automation functions and autonomous systems, including autocrossing and autodocking, will take place in 2027, while autonomous navigation will be implemented in 2028.
Earlier this month, Germany’s propulsion system manufacturer Schottel was selected to provide EcoPellers for a series of Fjord1’s four zero-emission and autonomous ferries.
As informed, two electrically driven Schottel EcoPellers type SRE 340 will be installed in each of the 120-meter-long and 18.6-meter-wide vessels.