In close collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime, Svanehøj has replaced the fuel pumps on the coastal passenger ship ‘Havila Castor’.
A similar retrofit of one of its sister vessels is already planned for the fourth quarter of this year.
In spring, 2025, the LNG-battery plug-in hybrid ‘Havila Castor’, was successfully retrofitted with new fuel pumps.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ships, the LNG-battery plug-in hybrid ‘Havila Castor’ has since resumed service on the Norwegian coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, utilising Svanehøj’s submerged LNG pump design.
‘Havila Castor’, along with the three other passenger vessels in the Havila Kystruten fleet, is equipped with Kongsberg Maritime’s fuel gas supply system.
A few months ago, Kongsberg contacted Svanehøj as the ‘Havila Castor’ had been facing problems with the previously installed fuel pumps supplied by another manufacturer.
“We brought together a dedicated team from our sales, service, and R&D departments. Working closely with Kongsberg, we developed a solution that allowed us to reuse as much of the existing installation as possible, minimising costs and reducing complexity”, said Per Troldtoft, Senior Sales Manager, Fuel at Svanehøj.
In recent years, Svanehøj has made significant investments in new products and services for the LNG segment, while also expanding its cryogenic testing capabilities.
These new facilities proved to be a great advantage in this project, as the solution was tested and certified under one roof in Denmark.
“From Kongsberg Maritime’s side, we would like to emphasise the good collaboration with Svanehøj, with very responsive communication and follow-up on all technical and practical matters, as well as on-board testing, with on-time delivery, support of information, and the final product.
“The new pump has been functioning well since its installation on the first vessel in April. Svanehøj’s fuel pump products are relevant for several of our fuel gas product lines,” added Audun Jetlund, Product Owner, Green Fuel Systems, Kongsberg Maritime.
The ‘Havila Castor’ retrofit project served as a key reference for Svanehøj’s newly developed CS fuel pump.
With its plug-in hybrid setup, combining LNG engines and a large battery pack, the ship requires a stable and high-performance fuel gas system to ensure smooth and reliable transition between electric and gas-powered operation.
Featuring the most efficient submerged cryogenic e-motor available and a patented self-cleaning LNG filter, the CS Pump provides consistent performance, Svanehøj claimed.
The high-velocity flow around the filter effectively removes harmful particles, minimising component wear and ensuring maximum uptime without the risk of clogging or power loss to the pump.
The filter unit generates a secondary flow that enhances motor cooling and provides adequate lubrication of the motor bearings.
Havila Kystruten said that it was continuously working towards more sustainable and robust solutions for its fleet.
Following the successful retrofit of ‘Havila Castor’, Svanehøj has been tasked with delivering a similar solution to a sistership, with installation planned for 4Q25.
