Norway-based shipping company Torghatten is to introduce
an electrically powered autonomous ferry service across Riddarfjärden in the
Stockholm city centre, reports Ports of Stockholm. The service will come into
operation this srping. It will be operated from a land-based control room.
The service will operate in Riddarfjärden, between two
inner-city quays. The ferry will be an autonomously operated electric vessel
that runs on batteries. It has been designed and built by the Bröderna Aa
shipyard in Hyen, Norway and the autonomous operation system is provided by
technology supplier Zeabuz in Trondheim, Norway.
Torghatten and Zeabuz intend that the ferry will run 15
hours per day. The batteries will then be recharged overnight. The ferry can
carry 24 passengers.
Prior to the service coming into operation in Stockholm,
the software has been tested in service operations with passengers in
Trondheim. Technology supplier Zeabuz has also developed their own simulator to
perform thousands of virtual crossings of Riddarfjärden before the ferry is
launched.
Initially there will be an operator aboard to make sure
everything works as it should.
