On 20 February 2020, second of a series of passenger-car ferries with battery-powered hybrid electric drive was launched in Remontowa Shipbuilding SA. The ferries will be delivered to one of the largest ferry carriers in Norway – Norled.
The ferry is being built under the contract signed in 2018. Remontowa Shipbuilding is building four fully equipped ships of this type (construction number B619/1-4).
Designed to minimize energy consumption
These are modern, battery-powered double-sided ferries, designed to minimize energy consumption, which consists of such solutions as:
- LED lighting,
- power supply systems for devices based on frequency converters,
- energy-efficient ventilation and air-conditioning systems,
- paint in the underwater part of the hull to minimize friction,
- lightweight ship structure and specially designed hull shape that reduces resistance in the water.
Each of the ferries will be equipped with two azimuthal thrusters and two generator sets. In the standard mode of operation all power will be drawn from the batteries, which will be charged while the ship is at berth in just 11 minutes.
Thrusters of “pulling” type (pul ling type) have built-in electric motors, driven by permanent magnets, providing high performance even at very low load. Generating sets, whose combustion engines will only run on biodiesel, are to be used as a power source in case of a battery system failure.
The project was carried out by the LMG Marin design office and the working documentation by Marine Design & Consulting (RMDC) of the Remontowa Holding group. Other companies in this group are also involved in the construction of ferries (Repair Electrical Solutions, Repair Hydroster Systems, Repair Coating & Equipment and Repair Lighting Technologies).
After the launch of the B619/2 ferry, the equipment work continues in the field of on-board systems and other equipment supporting the propulsion system as well as passenger and crew rooms.