The partner discussions started back in 2016 in Brussels. Two years later 13 European partners, with Rogaland County Council in the lead, were awarded funding from the EU H2020 program and construction could begin. The 12,9 million euros in EU funding is one of the highest amounts ever awarded to a single EU project.
In the summer of 2022 the vessel, given the name Medstraum, started operating the commuter route between Stavanger and Hommersåk.
At 31 meters long and nine meters wide, Medstraum can carry approximately 150 passengers. Fitted with two electrical engines and a battery with 1,5 MWh capacity she is designed for a service speed of 23 knots.
Large emissions cut
Rogaland county has an ambitious goal of achieving emission-free public transport by 2024. MS Medstraum will cut CO2 emissions equivalent of 30 buses each year (approximately 1,500 tonnes of CO2) putting the region on the right track to climate neutrality.
Revolutionary modularisation
The vessel is also revolutionary in terms of simplified design and using unique modular manufacturing methods. New module-based design and production methods for zero emission speed ferries are aimed at reducing costs and delivery time – which hopefully will benefit Europe as a whole.
Iver Jan Leren, Senior Advisor at Rogaland County Council believes Medstraum is a major step in the development of modern electric speedboats:
─ The large costs that the shipyard industry can save by developing modular construction techniques are very important, explains Leren.
Foto: Rogaland County Council. County mayor Marianne Chesak accepted the Ship of the Year award. Here she is together with Edmund Tolo, Sales Manager at Fjellstrand
Ship of The Year
Ship of The Year is an annual award handed out by the Norwegian shipping magazine, Skipsrevyen. The aim is to honor a shipbuilder, a ship owner, and their design for setting a new standard within green shipping. In 2022 The world’s first battery-only high-speed craft, MS Medstraum, was awarded the prestigious prize.
Project partners: Maritime CleanTech (NO), Kolumbus (NO), Rogaland County Council (NO), Fjellstrand (NO), Leirvik (NO), Hydro (NO), Servogear (NO), Wärtsilä (NO), HSVA (NO), University of Strathclyde (GB), National Technical University of Athens (GR), Fraunhofer IEM (DE), Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (GB) and De Vlaamse Waterweg (NL).
(Photo in heading: MARIUS KNUTSEN / MARITIME CLEANTECH . TrAM vessel Medstraum at Fjellstrand Yard.)