Autonomous cargo ferries for Oslo Fjord

ASKO Maritime AS is a subsidiary of Norges Gruppen ASA, one of the largest players in the Norwegian retail segment and this vessel construction project is partially funded by the Norwegian Government as part of the overall plan for a significant reduction in emissions in Norwegian waters. These 67 metre long ferries will have full electric propulsion and are designed solely for the transport of semi-trailers across Oslo Fjord.

The vessels will be managed by Massterly AS, which is the first company in the world that has been set up to undertake the technical management and the operation of autonomous vessels. Massterly is a joint venture between Kongsberg which is a significant player in the world of autonomous vessels and the shipping company Wilhelmsen.

These autonomous vessels will be delivered as full-electric transport ferries, with the main propulsion power coming from a 500kW electric motor coupled to an azimuthing stern drive. This with be supplied with electrical power from an 1846kWh capacity battery bank. An electrically powered Schottel Pump Jet will be fitted at the bow to act both as emergency propulsion and as a bow thruster to improve manoeuvrability. The operating speed will be 10 knots and it is anticipated that this mode of trailer transport will save over 2 million road miles per year.

The ferries will be fitted with a bridge forward and initially the ferries will be operated with a crew on board in order to test all the system and operation. Once the operation has been full established the ferries will operate as fully autonomous ferries for ASKO with the ability to transport 16 fully loaded standard EU trailers at one time. These will be stowed on the open deck with a loading ramp at the stern.

The vessels have been designed by Naval Dynamics in Norway with Kongsberg Maritime supplying the automation systems and with detailed engineering being carried out by CSL. They will be built under DNV GL Classification and flagged in Norway. Construction of the vessels will be carried out at Cochin Shipyard in India and the contract has options for a further two vessels.