Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 has awarded a contract to HAV Group’s energy design and smart control systems business, Norwegian Electric Systems (NES), to deliver two onshore charging stations for four autonomous zero-emission ferries.
Currently under construction at Tersan Shipyard in Türkiye, the “world’s first” battery-powered autonomous double-ended ferries will operate the 5.6-kilometer-long Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the west coast of Norway.
NES has been contracted to supply two complete containerized onshore charging stations, including transformers, switchboards, a control system, a data collection system, and the charging plug that connects the charging stations to the vessels.
Scheduled for delivery in 2026, one onshore charging station will be installed at the berth in Lavik and the other in Oppedal. The ferries will be close to fully charged in approximately ten minutes while at port, NES said.
Siv Remøy-Vangen , Managing Director at NES, explained: “We have delivered multiple onshore charging stations in the past, so this is highly familiar territory for NES. That said, these charging stations will be further developed to meet the autonomous operations from the ferries, where also they will have some autonomous functions.”
“Fjord1 is very pleased to enter this agreement with Norwegian Electric Systems for delivery of the charging stations to the Lavik-Oppedal ferry crossing. This partnership represents one of many important steps towards more environmentally friendly ferry operations. We have received similar deliveries in the past and are very satisfied with the cooperation we have with NES,” commented Odd Bjarte Johnsen , Fjord1’s Project Manager.
The contract for the onshore charging stations follows the previous two NES received for the Lavik-Oppedal autonomous ferries.
The first contract came in March 2024 when Tersan shipyard hired NES to act as a system integrator and provide complete system deliveries for power system, automation, and bridge design including navigation and communication solutions for the four ferries.
Subsequently, at the end of May this year, Fjord1 contracted NES to develop systems for the automation of vessel functions and autonomous navigation for the ferries.
Furthermore, NES’ sister company, HAV Design, was previously contracted to deliver ship design and an engineering package to the vessels.
Germany’s propulsion system manufacturer Schottel will provide two electrically driven Schottel EcoPellers type SRE 340 for each of the 120-meter-long and 18.6-meter-wide vessels.
To remind, Fjord1 ordered four autonomous, zero-emission ferries in February and construction of the first unit began in October 2024. 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.