Turkish Cemre Shipyard has awarded Norwegian Electric Systems AS (NES) a contract to supply the battery and control systems, plus act as system integrator, for a zero-emission ferry under construction for Scandlines.
“This is the largest contract NES has ever been awarded. It will be a high-tech ferry that on completion will sail the world’s longest zero emission ferry crossing. We look forward to applying our competence and technologies to help Scandlines towards their zero emission ambitions,” said Geir Larsen, NES’ Managing Director (pictured).
Scandlines has entered into a contract with Cemre Shipyard, Turkey, to build a passenger/freight ferry, enabling the route between Puttgarden in Germany and Rødby in Denmark to operate emission free.
NES will act as the system integrator for the ferry’s power systems and smart control set-up. This means that NES will be in charge of the complete energy design, electric power and distribution, including the energy storage system (battery).
“We will manage the complete energy design. The energy storage system is currently the world’s largest for a ferry,” Jan Klokk, NES’ Vice President Sales explained.
Under the terms of the contract, NES will supply the ESS (energy storage system) pack, DC switchboard, generators and AC switchboards that allow two sailing modes – fully electric and hybrid electric mode (battery and bio-diesel for the auxiliary engines).
NES will also fit its Raven integrated navigation system on the vessel, as well as bridge consoles, integrated alarm system (IAS) and a data collection system used to monitor vessel equipment performance. This data can be used in predictive maintenance programmes.
“We have committed ourselves to ensuring that maximum electrical loss is below a certain threshold, which means that we will turn every stone to make this ferry as energy-efficient as practically possible, thereby keeping operating expenditure and environmental footprint to a minimum,” Larsen said.
NES estimated that the total contract value will be close to NOK100 mill, which is the company’s largest contract to date. It also represents a breakthrough contract in the highly active Turkish shipbuilding market.
A subsidiary of HAV Group, listed on Euronext Growth Oslo, NES will utilise its three Norwegian facilities – in Bergen (HQ), Egersund and Ålesund – plus its operation in Turkey to design, assemble and test the systems. All of the equipment will be supplied to Cemre by the end of 2023.
NES has also established a new subsidiary company and open an office in Istanbul to provide better services to Turkish and other shipyards in southern Europe. NES Turkey will provide site management and commissioning support for this project.
Scandlines’ new ferry for the Puttgarden/Rødby route is expected to enter service in 2024.
She will have a length of 147.4 m, breadth of 25.4 m and a design draft of 5.3 m, plus a capacity of 66 freight units and 140 pax. Lorries will be able to be carried on both the upper and lower decks.
With a crossing time of one hour, the ferry is emission free. It can also be operated as a hybrid ferry when the crossing time is 45 minutes.
The ferry will initially recharge her battery in Rødby, Denmark. In 2019, Scandlines invested in a 50 kV/25 MW power cable to Færgevej in Rødbyhavn.
This cable will now be extended to the ferry berths, where a transformer and charging station will be installed. In the long term, the plan is for the ferry to also be able to recharge in Puttgarden when the right solution has been found.
“NES’ purpose is to help shipowners and yards realise their sustainability ambitions through designing optimal propulsion, energy and control systems to ensure safety by smart and easy operation. This project encapsulates this perfectly,” Larsen explained.
