Singapore shipbuilder Sembcorp Marine has handed over the first of three identical battery-powered Ro-Pax vessels ordered by Norwegian ferry operator Norled.
Designed by Sembcorp's wholly owned subsidiary LMG Marin, the double-ended Hella has an LOA of 82.4 metres, a beam of 16.4 metres, and capacity for 300 passengers and crew and up to 80 cars. The alternate vehicle load will consist of a combination of 10 cars and 10 trailers with lorries.
The ferry will operate normally on lithium-ion batteries that drive Schottel thrusters to deliver a service speed of 10 knots. As an alternative, the vessel can run on combined battery-diesel hybrid backup mode. The batteries, which were supplied by Corvus Energy, will be charged and recharged using green hydro-electric power. The backup diesel generator is from Volvo.
The ferry's design is optimised according to Norled's operational requirements, leading to the incorporation of features that help improve energy efficiency. These include quick-connection shore charging plugs, an automatic mooring system for faster turnarounds, an efficient hull design, lightweight construction, low-friction hull paint, heat recovery systems, full LED lighting, a demand-dependent HVAC system, and other features that help minimise hotel and auxiliary loads.
The interior spaces include an upper passenger deck with large panoramic windows. The interiors were designed by Vestnes Ocean while the HVAC is from AeronMollier. Bohamet windows and Baggerod doors are installed throughout the ferry, and a lift from Lift Emotion provides access between the vehicle deck and the upper deck.
The bridge has navigation electronics supplied by Seam, which was also responsible for the electrical connections used in the ferry's propulsion system.
The exterior surfaces are coated in paint from International.
The ferry is also equipped for dealing with onboard emergencies. Survitec supplied a marine evacuation slide while a rescue boat from Viking Life-Saving Equipment is also fitted. Should a fire break out in any of area of the vessel, a Matre Maskin extinguishing system will spray foam in the affected compartment to prevent the further spread of the blaze.
Homeported in Stavanger, Hella will operate on the Sognefjord – Norway's largest and deepest fjord – on Norled's shortsea Hella-Vangsnes-Dragsvik shortsea connections for a total one-way distance of only 11 kilometres. Dragsvik, the second ferry in the series, was recently completed by Sembcorp while Leikanger, the other sister vessel, is in the final stages of construction. Both ferries will be subsequently operated on the same routes in Vestland county.
Design work on all three ferries in the series was done in compliance to DNV class rules.
| Hella | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Ro-Pax ferry |
| Classification: | DNV |
| Port of registry: | Stavanger, Norway |
| Flag: | Norway |
| Owner: | Norled, Norway |
| Designer: | LMG Marin, Norway |
| Builder: | Sembcorp Marine, Singapore |
| Length overall: | 82.4 metres |
| Beam: | 16.4 metres |
| Capacity: | 80 vehicles |
| Propulsion: | Schottel |
| Generator: | Volvo |
| Cruising speed: | 10 knots |
| Batteries: | Corvus Energy lithium-ion |
| Electronics supplied by: | Seam |
| Other equipment installed: | Lift Emotion lift; AeronMollier HVAC; Baggerod doors |
| Paints: | International |
| Windows: | Bohamet |
| Interior designer: | Vestnes Ocean |
| Safety equipment: | Survitec marine evacuation slide |
| Firefighting equipment: | Matre Maskin foam system |
| Rescue boat: | Viking Life-Saving Equipment |
| Type of fuel: | Diesel |
| Passengers: | 300 |
| Operational area: | Sognefjord, Norway |
