On February 27, Norwegian ferry owner/operator Fjord1 AS signed a contract with Turkish shipyard Tersan for the construction of four battery-powered autonomous double-ended ferries.
The battery-powered autonomous double-ended ferry is said to be the first of its kind in the world. The new ferries, which will “revolutionize coastal transport, combining efficiency, safety, and innovation,” is expected to operate from September 1, 2026, between Lavik and Oppedal, Norway.
Fjord1 AS said that the series of ferries will feature autonomous navigation and highly automated functions, to replace manual operations. The automated functions and autonomous systems will be implemented in 2027 and autonomous navigation in 2028.
It is understood that the cooperation between two parts started in 2021, when Tersan Shipyard was responsible for the construction of two environmentally friendly battery-powered ferries for Fjord1 AS. Currently, Tersan Shipyard has delivered six all-electric ferries to Fjord1 AS. Fjord1 AS expects to take delivery of three new electric ferries in the second and third quarters of 2024 which will be operational in January 2025 under a 15-year contract with Westland County Council.
Last November, Tersan Shipyard acquired the Norwegian Havyard Leirvik Shipyard, part of the Eqva ASA Group, to strengthen its position in the Nordic and global shipbuilding industry. This decision helps the two shipyards to combine expertise, technology and offer more attractive services for a wider range of high quality vessel construction, after-sales services and general ship maintenance business.
