Brunvoll has been chosen to supply azimuth propulsion thrusters and thruster control systems for Norled’s four next hybrid ferries. The vessels will service the routes between Stokkvågen, Lovund, and Træna in Norway. The vessels are designed by LMG Marin and will be built at the Tersan Havyard Shipyard.

Norwegian ferry operator Norled has won the contract for the routes based on a 90% reduction in emissions. Norled has an ambitious strategy for sustainability, and the new hybrid ferries match their strategy. Each ferry will have a battery capacity of 8000 kWh, and therefore the largest battery capacity compared to other ferries in Norway.

The routes support traffic between Stokkvågen and Lovund, and between Stokkvågen and Træna, including some more destinations. See the map illustration for more information. Three ferries will normally service the routes, and one will be in back-up.

The vessels have capacity for 60 vehicles and 250 passengers each, including crew. The capacity comes in handy as the island Træna houses one of the more remote festivals in Norway the Træna Festival of music, midnight sun, and majestic mountains.

The islands also house large-scale fishery facilities, and from a specific facility at Lovund it is reported that about 15 semi-trailer trucks of fish leave the factory each working day, making Lovund-Stokkvågen one of the busier transits. The Lovund island is in addition home to a wider range of sea birds and has the largest population of puffins in the Helgeland coastal area.

Figure 2: The two routes which will be serviced by Norled’s new ferries. (Illustration by Brunvoll)

The thrusters that will bring islanders, semi-trailer trucks, tourists, and festive people to their destination are Brunvoll’s pulling azimuth thrusters, serving simultaneously as rudders and propulsors. The steering and manoeuvrability of Brunvoll’s pulling azimuth thrusters are what makes them the favoured choice for shuttle ferry operators. Brunvoll’s trusted values of quality and service only make the decision easier.

Classification: External

Operators onboard the ferries control the thrusters using the BruCon Propulsion & Thruster Control System, BruCon PTC. The compact control system design is based on the latest research and innovations in human-machine interaction. The ship design is accredited naval architects at LMG Marin with offices in Bergen. Norled will operate the vessels on the route from 20