Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Norwegian ship owner Torghatten Nord for two hydrogen-powered fuel cell ferries.
The ferries will operate on Norway’s longest ferry route, Vestfjordstrekninga, connecting Bodø, Røst, Værøy and Moskenes. The two vessels will use a minimum of 85% green hydrogen as fuel, helping to reduce CO₂-emissions on the route by 26,500 tons each year.
The ferries were designed by Norwegian Ship Design and are scheduled to enter operation in October 2025.
Further development and engineering are ongoing at Norwegian Ship Design. “No similar ferries to the ferries being developed exist in the world today. We therefore had to start from scratch and develop completely new designs and solutions. We have considered a range of concepts, and in the end, we chose a unique concept using hydrogen’s physical properties for achieving optimal safety,” said Gjermund Johannessen CEO Norwegian Ship Design.
A comprehensive HAZID (Hazard Identification) has been conducted, where hydrogen safety experts HYEX Safety and potential equipment suppliers took part, in order to ensure an equivalent safety level as on a modern diesel powered ferry. The Norwegian Maritime Authority has been part of this process and has also had separate meetings with Lloyd’s Register before the concept was granted AiP.
Torkild Torkildsen, CEO, Torghatten Nord, said: “To develop hydrogen ferries on such a long and weather-exposed route is a world-class climate project with great importance for the entire maritime sector and not least Bodø and Lofoten. The expertise of Lloyd’s Register ensures that the ground-breaking work we do in this project is based on safety, operational stability and good travel comfort for our passengers.”
Markus Büsig, North Europe President, Lloyd’s Register, said: “We are pleased to award Torghatten Nord AiP based on an extensive risk analysis of the concept and technology. Lloyd’s Register has been present in Norway for 150 years, and we see this as a landmark project that will drive forward the use of hydrogen as a safe and sustainable future fuel.”
The AiP builds on LR’s zero-carbon projects in the region, including the recent AiP for the hydrogen-fuelled bulk carrier, With Orca, which was granted in March 2022.
In April, Torghatten Nord contracted Cemre Shipyard to build a new battery-electric ferry for Bognes-Lødingen. Also developed by Norwegian Ship Design, the double-ended car and passenger ferry will emit zero emissions in exposed waters on the route Bognes – Lødingen in the northern part of Norway. Typical service speed on the one-hour crossing will be 13-14 knots. The transit time and speed will set a new record among Norwegian battery ferries.
If shore power is unavailable, biodiesel fuelled generators will provide sufficient power for normal operation. The ferry will have two completely independent propulsion and power systems. The 117 metre vessel will have capacity for 399 passengers and will be built to DNV class and fly the Norwegian flag.
