Electric ferries encouraged

Norway has one of the world’s largest electric ferries now in service.

Bastø Electric is the first of three battery electric ferries that will serve Norway’s busiest ferry route between Moss and Horten which carry 3.8 million passengers and 1.8 million vehicles annually.

The ferry has 4.3MWh of battery storage (about as much as the batteries for 107 Nissan Leafs) provided by Siemens Energy, and can rapidly recharge in port.

During 2022, emissions on Norway’s busiest ferry connection will be reduced by 75% – equivalent to about 10,000 new petrol cars, Bastø Fosen says.

“It is important for us to take our social responsibility seriously and we want to contribute what we can for the green shift,” Bastø Fosen chief executive Øyvind Lund says.

“The start-up of Bastø Electric is a milestone, not only for us, but for the development of emission-free ferry technology both in Norway and internationally.”

That’s prompted Atlassian co-founder and Australian billionaire Scott Farquhar to suggest Australia follow Norway’s move and introduce electric ferries, especially in Sydney.

“Would be great to see electric ferries on Sydney harbour as part of our plan to net zero emissions,” he tweets. “Should the new Manly ferries be electric?”

New Zealand is already progressing plans for electric ferries, with East by West ferries due to launch one in Wellington soon and electric ferries also considered for Auckland’s inner harbour services.

Built in Turkey, the MF Bastø Electric is 139.2m long by 21m wide and can carry 200 cars or 24 trucks, plus 600 passengers, departing 20-24 times daily on the 10.5km Moss-Horten route.

Siemens Energy chief executive Bjørn Einar Brath reckons Norway will have as many as 70 electric ferries operating.