Swiss-based Leclanché has been chosen to supply a second battery system to be fitted on Scotland’s Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) ferries.
The latest contract covers a pair of ropaxes, which will serve three islands in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
The contract for two 1.1 MWh patented Leclanché Navius MRS-3 marine rack systems was awarded by Elkon, part of Germany’s Schottel Group and an electrical systems integrator for the marine industry, based in Istanbul.
Elkon had previously contracted Leclanché to provide its battery systems for two CMAL ferries, the ‘Loch Indaal’ and ‘Isle of Islay’, being built to serve Scotland’s Inner Hebrides islands of Islay and Jura.
Battery systems for the two first projects are due to be delivered in 2024 and 2025 and systems for the second set of vessels later in 2025.
The hybrid vessels are being built at Turkey’s Cemre shipyard. Each vessel will measure 94.8 m in length and have a capacity for 450 pax and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles.
They will serve the ports of Lochmaddy, the administrative centre of North Uist; Tarbert on the Isle of Harris; and Uig on the Isle of Skye.
“Leclanché has proven itself to be a trusted and quality-oriented partner and therefore the basis for this renewed collaboration on our latest CMAL projects,” said Özgür Arslancan, Elkon Technology Director. “These two new CMAL vessels are nearly identical to those of the ‘Loch Indaal’ and ‘Isle of Islay’ – other than raised aft mooring decks to accommodate the higher pier heights at the three ports they will serve.
“Together with Leclanché, we are helping CMAL to increase capacity, and resilience, on its routes,” he said.
“We are pleased to have been selected, again, by Elkon as its battery system provider for these two new hybrid ropax ferries,” added Phil Broad, Leclanché e-Mobility CEO. “There is no greater compliment from a business partner than to be specified repeatedly for additional projects.
“The Navius MRS-3 continues to prove itself throughout the maritime industry as the battery storage system of choice when it comes to reliability, safety, liquid cooling architecture, low maintenance and reduced footprint,” he said.
The new dedicated hybrid vessels will replace current shared vessel routes to provide an expanded and more reliable service. This route will cover some 25 nautical miles each way, with a total sailing time of 1 hr 45 mins between the ports of Uig and Lochmaddy and 1 hr 40 mins between Uig and Tarbert.
Leclanché’s battery system, which will include its latest cell technology, will allow the ferries to sail into each port quietly and carbon free, the company claimed.
