(Gothenburg / Sweden) – The Swedish shipping company Stena Line wants to operate the Gothenburg-Frederikshavn route with two battery-operated ferries before 2030. The company has teamed up with the Volvo Group, Scania and the Port of Gothenburg on a “Tranzero” project. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in Scandinavia's largest port by 2030 percent by 70.
The “Stena Elektra” will be the world’s first fossil-free “RoPax” class ferry. The abbreviation stands for “Roll On/Roll Off” for freight and “Pax” for passengers. With a length of around 200 meters, the combination carrier will offer space for 1.000 passengers and have a cargo capacity of 3.000 loading meters.
Fuel cells, hydrogen, bio-methanol
In order to serve the approximately 50 nautical mile route between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, the battery capacity must be around 60 to 70 megawatt hours. The batteries are charged while in port.
The company plans to announce the exact specifications “over the course of a year”. Stena Line is currently still testing the combination with drive variants such as fuel cells, hydrogen and bio-methanol.
“We see great potential for both battery hybrids and fully battery-powered ships in future short-sea shipping,” says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line. “But ferries alone are not enough; at the same time, infrastructure and charging options must also be developed in the ports and at the terminals.”
Since 2018, Stena Line has been using the “Stena Jutlandica” as a battery hybrid ferry on the Gothenburg-Frederikshavn route. The bow thrusters are battery operated in port operations. The batteries are charged on the one hand during the journey and on the other hand with green shore power while in port in Gothenburg.
Photos
Combination with drive variants such as fuel cells, hydrogen and bio-methanol: Stena Line wants to submit more detailed specifications later / © Stena Line
