Only three and a half weeks after agreeing on principle terms, Norwegian ferry operator Color Line and the Ulstein shipyard now finalized the order for what they call the world’s largest plug-in hybrid vessel.
The environmentally sound ship will be servicing Sandefjord – Strømsta[ds_preview]d from summer 2019. Ulstein won the contract in competition with several other yards, it was announced. »It is very gratifying that the Norwegian shipbuilding industry has proven its competitiveness internationally, and that Color Line contributes to the further development of the Norwegian maritime industry,« said CEO Trond Kleivdal at Color Line.
»We are very pleased that Color Line decided to proceed from a Letter of Intent to a firm contract on the construction of this hybrid vessel. This is an important milestone for us, and we are looking forward to the further cooperation with Color Line«, stated CEO Gunvor Ulstein at Ulstein Group.
According to the shipyard, the ship will be a plug-in hybrid, in which the batteries are recharged via a power cable with green electricity from shore facilities or, as a secondary alternative, recharged on board by the ship‘s generators. With shore power in Sandefjord all Norwegian ports on Color Line’s network will have shore power facilities. The ship will have full battery power into and out of the fjord to Sandefjord inner harbour.
The 160m vessel, with the working title »Color Hybrid«, can take on 2,000 passengers and 500 cars. It will have almost double capacity as »Bohus«, which is scheduled to be phased out when the new ferry will be put into operation in summer 2019.
