World's first zero-emission high-speed ferry Medstraum

Ziele/Ideen

The TrAM project aimed to develop a zero-emission fast-going passenger vessel through advanced modular production. In 2022 she started her commuter route in Stavanger, Norway. But why create a fully electric fast ferry in the first place? The answer lies in the amount of emissions ferries are responsible for. The ratio of passenger kilometers traveled to CO2 emissions is very high for ferries compared to, e.g., buses. In some cases, fast ferries can even be worse than airplanes from an emissions perspective. This is what makes zero-emission ferries essential to reaching energy and climate goals.

Kurzbeschreibung

While riding a traditional fast ferry can leave your environmental footprint per kilometer higher than flying, a ride with the vessel Medstraum will leave no trace at all. In the EU-funded TrAM project, the partners have developed the world’s first fully electric high-speed passenger vessel. In addition to eliminating emissions and noise, this vessel is built with transfer value and modularization principles in mind. Thus, it reduce engineering and manufacturing costs for the ferries next in line for zero-emission sailing.

Resultate

The TrAM project has been a success. We overcame the technical challenges of designing, producing, and operating the world’s first fully electrical fast ferry during a global pandemic, a logistics crisis, and a war in Europe. Today our vessel is operating a public route. The all-electric solutions secure our title as the world's first zero-emission fast ferry. Medstraum has installed 1524 kilowatt-hours of batteries and no other fuels. The energy supply is renewable energy.

Medstraum is an excellent example of how good cooperation between the public and private sectors makes the transition to climate-friendly transport possible in Norway and the rest of the world. Even though the project has already lowered the carbon footprint of its owner Kolumbus, the goal is for this vessel to inspire others to replace fossil-fueled ferries and join the green transition.

Partner

Project partners: Maritime CleanTech (NO), Kolumbus (NO), Rogaland County Council (NO), Fjellstrand (NO), Leirvik (NO), Hydro (NO), Servogear (NO), Wärtsilä (NO), HSVA (NO), University of Strathclyde (GB), National Technical University of Athens (GR)