Holland Shipyards Group Takes Step Towards Autonomous Electric Ferries

Holland Shipyards Group takes a large step forward with a contract for four autonomous electric ferries

On Tuesday October 4, 2022, Holland Shipyards Group signed a contract with Trafikverket Sweden for the delivery of two plus two autonomous all-electric ferries. The ferries will sail according to autonomy level 2 and will be controlled from the remote control center based in Stockholm. 

“We are extremely proud to be a part of this pioneering step in shipbuilding” says Cor Hoogendoorn (director Holland Shipyards Group)

Remotely controlled operations
The signed contract includes the delivery of two ferries with four automooring facilities and two charging stations, a simulator facility and a remote control center. The tender covers the entire procurement: four ferries, eight automooring facilities, four charging stations and more.

The ferries, measuring 86.00 by 14.24 m with a 60-car carrying capacity, are intended to be autonomous vessels level 2 (IMO), meaning that the vessel are remotely monitored, but do have crew on board that can take control whenever necessary. Crossing the ferry route can be done with just the push of a button. While mooring, the vessels are being charged by a shore charging facility within approximately four minutes.

Safe transportation
The implementation of autonomous sailing technology is intended to increase passenger safety in the long run. When a fully operational system is in place, situations can be dealt with in an entirely consistent manner, reducing the risk for ‘unexpected’ actions.

Reducing the dependency on crew on board requires that many systems are remotely operable and are redundant, so that, when one way of operation fails, another route remains available. This means that the level of inputs and outputs into the ship’s Integrated Automations System (IAS) will be large. The IAS in turn will be mirrored in a remote control center, allowing on-shore monitoring personnel full access to all the ship’s vital functionalities.

The first ferry is scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2024 and the other ferries will arrive in constant intervals after the first.

Frontrunner in electric vessels
Holland Shipyards Group has proven to be a frontrunner in the electrification of vessels with many electric and hybrid ferries delivered in the past five years in North-West Europe.