A partnership formed by Germany's Fassmer Shipyard and engine manufacturer Torqeedo has confirmed that work is underway on a new fully electric catamaran ferry series optimised for urban public transport.
The FRP-hulled vessels will be fully ES-TRIN 2021 compliant with capacity for up to 100 passengers each. The modular concept will allow the customer to adapt each vessel's overall length from 12 to 24 metres, depending on the route serviced.
The ferries will each be equipped with two Torqeedo 100kW electric thrusters that can each rotate a full 360 degrees. The partners said operations in inner city waterways can last up to 14 hours following overnight charging.
The low-wash catamaran hull will enable the ferry to reach speeds of up to 13 knots. The hull was designed by Judel/Vrolijk and Company of Bremerhaven.
A customisable interior design will allow the operator to take all individual customer and route needs into account with a flexible number of seats vs standing room, space for wheelchairs, bicycles and prams, an LED light system, air conditioning, skylights and an entertainment system. For longer routes or tour boats, lavatories, kiosks, and snack machines can be integrated in the design