Viking Magazine - October 2021 - 20

Kingdom in the early 1900s. These
machines thrived until the 1920s, when
brawnier internal-combustion engines
gained favor.
Even today in Norway, the majority
of long-distance ships that swiftly
travel to and from large seaside cities
depend on diesel fuel, as no batteries
robust enough to power them exist.
But that's changing. Thanks in part to
Norwegians' abundance of inexpensive
hydropower, they own almost three
quarters of the world's 270-plus vessels
that are propelled in some form by
battery energy. By the end of this year,
Norway predicts its fleet of 31 fullyelectric
car ferries will nearly double.
Momentum initially picked up
in 2011, when Norway's Ministry
of Transport and Communications
floated a competition calling for the
development of an eco-conscious
ferry to service the villages of Lavik
and Oppedal. The Norwegian
company Norled won the contest,
and the world's first battery-powered
passenger-and-car ferry was born.
The Ampere went into commercial
operation in 2015 using tech inspired
by Norway's best electric vehicles.
The lightweight, 262-foot-long vessel
is small and slow compared to its
diesel counterparts, but it gets the
job done. Using electric motors and
batteries, it shuttles up to 120 cars and
350 passengers across the Sognefjord
about 17 times, round-trip, every day.
The hydroelectric power used to fully
charge the Ampere overnight and for
10 minutes at each port stop comes
from the existing grid infrastructure.
After being in the water for a year or
two, research
showed
that when
compared
to similar
yet dieseloperated
ferries,
the
Ampere
cut carbon
emissions by
The Zeabuz launched
this year in
Trondheim as the
country's first selfdriving
electric
water ferry.
95% annually and reduced costs by
80%. Norled piggybacked upon this
success by launching another ferry, the
Elektra, in 2017.
As with most forms of technology,
each generation of electric vessel seems
to go farther, get stronger and charge
faster. That was the case in March
this year, when the world's largest,
entirely battery-powered ferry, Bastø
Electric, set sail on a journey across
the Oslo Fjord. Built in Turkey, the
457-by-69-foot vessel accommodates
600 passengers and 200 cars, and
is powered by batteries that reach a
maximum capacity of 4.3 MWh.
Norway's most bustling ferry route
is the 6-mile stretch between Moss and
Horten. About 3.8 million passengers
and 1.8 million vehicles are transported
along it each year. Bastø Electric's
operator, shipping company Bastø
Fosen, claims that in 2022, the ship will
reduce emissions along the 30-minute
crossing by 75%.
People looking for a fast way to get
around on a smaller scale have options,
too. The Zeabuz launched this year in
Trondheim as the country's first selfdriving
electric water ferry. Developed
in 2018, the public water taxi operates
24/7 and fits up to a dozen passengers.
Customers can coordinate their trip via
a phone app, and ride for free.
As it cruises across city waterways
and along coastal communities, the selfdriving
Zeabuz uses sensors to detect
its surroundings and any obstacles that
might be in its path. The technology
sends data to the control system,
which helps the ferry not only securely
accommodate its riders but also
" choose " where to dock and recharge.
Zeabuz's creators believe the use of
autonomous boats to move passengers
along waterways will revive urban
transport by making it more sustainable
and efficient.
Zeabuz
20 VIKING OCTOBER 2021
sonsofnorway.com
Cruising Forward
Utilitarian vessels aren't the only ones
being upgraded. In 2016, Brødrene
Aa, a group of shipbuilders based in
southwestern Norway, created the
Vision of the Fjords, the world's first
hybrid-engine sightseeing ship. Made of
lightweight carbon fiber, it uses far less
fuel than its petroleum-burning cousins.
Two years later, the company crafted
PHOTO: COURTESY ZEABUZ
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - October 2021

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