The concept has been developed in line with the Norwegian government's new environmental regulations for ferries emphasising the elimination of harmful emissions, and in cooperation between Wärtsilä's Ship Design and Electrical & Automation offices. The single-solution offering is said to provide customers with an optimised design and a single point of contact, thereby streamlining the engineering, integration, and follow-up procedures throughout the project phase.
The design focuses on high energy efficiency with low resistance, both above and below the water line, Wärtsilä said. The ferries can run entirely on batteries or in a battery-engine hybrid configuration, in which the fuel options are liquefied natural gas (LNG) or biofuel. In plug-in operation, the fuel consumption is reduced by 100% compared with conventional installations, and all local emissions are completely eliminated. With the plug-in hybrid configuration, emissions are reduced by up to 50%.

The concept features Wärtsilä's new wireless inductive charging system, which is considered a notable benefit for typical shuttle ferry operations involving 20,000 or more departures a year. The system eliminates physical cable connections, thus reducing wear and tear and enabling charging to begin immediately when the vessel arrives at quay.

The design also encompasses a complete electrical and automation package based on the company's battery/hybrid solution. It also includes Wärtsilä azimuth propulsion units and a complete bridge control system. The ferry series can accommodate 60 to 120 cars on a single car deck for quick and easy loading and unloading. 

Vira Maritime