Color Line and Ulstein Sign LOI for World's Largest Hybrid Vessel

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday January 25, 2017

Ulstein Group ASA (Ulstein) Tuesday announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Color Line AS (Color Line) for the construction of what it says will be the world's largest hybrid vessel.

The ferry is set to be a plug-in hybrid vessel that uses batteries recharged with "green electricity" from onshore facilities or onboard by the ship's generators.

"The ship will have full battery power into and out of the fjord to Sandefjord. It will therefore not give emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or nitrogen and sulphur compounds in this area," notes Ulstein.

The vessel, which is known by its working title, Color Hybrid, is slated to feature double the capacity of M/S Bohus, the vessel Color Hybrid is intended to replace.

"The focus on a new vessel with new green technology happens partly because the company, through the Government's maritime strategy, has received approximately identical conditions as their competitors in the Nordic region," said Trond Kleivdal, Group President of Color Line.

Color Line, which is noted to have already installed facilities in Oslo, Larvik, and Kristiansand, will have shore power at all of its ports once facilities at Sandefjord are installed.

"Our ambition is to be a leader in European short sea shipping and Color Hybrid is a new proof of this," said Kleivdal.

Gunvor Ulstein, Ulstein's CEO, commenting on the news, said: "this is an important milestone for us, and we are very pleased that we have been chosen as partner in this very exciting project. We are looking forward to the further cooperation with Color Line."

The vessel, which will be designed by Fosen Yard (Fosen), is set to serve on a Sandefjord-Strömstad route beginning in the summer of 2019.