Our concept of a zero-emission fast-going vessel;” Urban Water Shuttle” is being further developed in a European perspective. The TrAM-project was in 2018 awarded 12M Euros from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme, and the project will revolutionize Norwegian production of zero-emission vessels.
The project’s main objective is to develop and validate a concept for waterborne modular design and construction with a focus on electrical-powered vessel operations in protected waters, coastal areas and inland waterways. The project will result in a new fully-electric high-speed vessel with zero emissions that will operate between Stavanger and Hommersåk on the west coast of Norway. In addition, new manufacturing methods will contribute to 25 percent lower production costs and 70 percent lower engineering costs. The vessel will be built by Norwegian shipyard Fjellstrand.
The groundbreaking fast ferry will sail under the name Medstraum, and will start operating during 2022.
The project will also conduct two studies for the same type of vessel in London and Belgium to explore opportunities for similar zero-emission vessels on selected routes in Europe.
Cluster partners Rogaland Fylkeskommune (Project coordinator), Hydro Extrusion Norway, Leirvik and Fjellstrand participates in the project, together with European partners Wärtsilä Holland (Netherlands), MBNA Thames Clippers (UK), University of Strathclyde (UK), Fraunhofer IEM (Germany), National Technical University of Athens, HSVA (Germany) and Waterwegen & Zeekanal NV (Belgium).
The concept will be validated through in total nine demonstrators, of which at least one will be a physical electric passenger vessel operating a multi-stop commuter route in the city of Stavanger, Norway.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 769303.