(Stavanger / Norway) – The car and passenger ferry “MF Hydra” has started regular commercial operation after many months of testing and optimization. It is “the first ship in the world to run on liquid hydrogen,” says Heidi Wolden, CEO of the shipping company Norled AS.
The British manufacturer of industrial gases Linde plc supplies Norled with green liquid hydrogen for the fuel cells through its German subsidiary Linde Engineering. According to the information, Linde Engineering also built and installed the onshore bunker system, the on-board tank and the fuel processing equipment. The Danish company Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S developed the fuel cells. The design was created by Sembcorp Marine subsidiary LMG Marine AS. Westcon Yards AS in Ølensvåg, together with system integrator Seam from Karmøy, was responsible for equipping and completing the vessel. Corvus Energy supplied the batteries.
According to a data sheet from Westcon, the ferry is a good 82 meters long, 17 meters wide and has a maximum draft of 2,90 meters. It can load 80 cars and ten trucks and can also accommodate around 300 passengers and crew members. The drive power of the Scania engine is up to 553 kilowatts (750 hp), which enables a speed of nine knots.
Hydrogen follows LNG and battery
According to Norled, Norway “continues to be a leading player in the transition of maritime transport to environmentally friendly technologies”.
Norled ferry “MF Ryfylke” powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). © Norled AS
In 2000, the “MF Glutra” was the first car ferry powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). This alone has led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel operation.
Norled's battery-electric ferry “MF Ampere”. © Norled AS
Eleven years ago there was a tender from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) for the electrically powered ferry “MF Ampere”, which Norled put into operation in 2015. According to the company's assessment, this has led to “a revolution in electric ferries in Norway”. Today there are around 70 electric ferries in operation in Norway.
Test operation of the “MF Hydra” began in September 2021. At the time, the ship was awarded the “Ship of the Year Award” by the Norwegian trade magazine “Skipsrevyen”.
Norled AS is one of Norway's largest ferry and express ship operators. The company has 80 ships and operates ferry and speedboat services from the Oslofjord to Troms Province.
The company employs over 1.000 people and, according to its own information, generates an annual turnover of two billion crowns (180 million euros). The company's headquarters are in Stavanger, with branches in Bergen and Oslo. Norled is owned by the Nordic infrastructure fund CapMan Infra and the Canadian company CBRE Caledon Capital Management.
Photos
The car ferry MF Hydra runs on liquid hydrogen with zero emissions. © Norled AS
