Remontowa Shipbuilding Launches Electric Ferry for Torghatten Nord
Remontowa Shipbuilding SA successfully launched a passenger-car ferry for Torghatten Nord AS, one of Norway’s largest ferry operators, on Friday, July 4th. The hybrid-powered vessel will serve the Stornes-Bjørnerå connection in the Troms region.
Technical Launch Process
The launch was conducted as a technical operation without public attendance. The procedure utilized a floating dock, onto which the partially equipped ferry hull had been previously transferred from the assembly platform. After towing to the launch location, the dock was submerged until the ferry achieved buoyancy and was then towed away.
The operation was observed by representatives from the shipyard’s management, including President Dariusz Jaguszewski, Vice President Bartłomiej Pomierski, Project Manager Piotr Alboszta, and Contracting Director Michał Jaguszewski, as well as shipowner representatives including President Marius Hansen, CFO Trygve Tofte, broker Jon Staalesen, NSD design office President Gjermund Johannessen, and Project Manager Tore Heidegard.
“The launch proceeded very smoothly and according to the planned schedule. Currently, all work on the vessel is approximately 80 percent complete, and we will soon be preparing the ferry for Harbour Acceptance Tests, scheduled to begin in the second half of September,” said Piotr Alboszta, Project Manager for B620/1.
Project Background and Design
The ferry is being built under a contract signed in December 2023. The project was developed by The Norwegian Ship Design Company AS, supported by Remontowa Marine Design & Consulting from the Remontowa Holding group for working documentation.
The ferry measures 63.65 meters in overall length and 15.50 meters in width. Its deck can accommodate 149 people (passengers and crew) and 50 passenger cars. Due to the challenging operating conditions typical of the Arctic Circle region, the project emphasized the use of lightweight materials and implementation of systems characterized by low losses, ultimately enabling maximum energy consumption reduction.
Advanced Propulsion Technology
The ferry is equipped with two azimuthal thrusters with vertically mounted electric motors, powered by batteries or emergency generators. In normal operation, batteries will be recharged from the shore power grid during unloading/loading operations, which will occur relatively frequently since individual crossings will take no more than 12 minutes.
Long-Standing Partnership
The collaboration with the shipowner began in 2009 with a contract for four modern ferries of varying propulsion types, engine power, and route ranges. Between 2012-2013, Remontowa Shipbuilding delivered four additional liquefied natural gas-powered units to this Norwegian operator: Landegode, Væroy, Barøy, and Lødingen, serving passenger-car traffic in the Lofoten archipelago region.
“After several years of break, we have returned to cooperation. We can see the results today – the launch of the ninth vessel for this shipowner in our history. The rich history of this cooperation has its advantages – we, as a shipyard, know what the expectations are, while the shipowner knows what they can expect from us,” concluded Piotr Alboszta.
Company Operations and Future Delivery
Torghatten Nord operates 43 ferry connections and 15 high-speed passenger boat routes. The vessel delivery to the shipowner will likely occur in the first quarter of 2026.
This marks the third launch this year at Remontowa Shipbuilding, with two more scheduled before year-end. Currently, the shipyard’s production portfolio includes 13 fully equipped vessels: five naval ships (three minehunters and two SIGINT reconnaissance vessels for the Polish Navy), one electric ferry for Norway, and seven hybrid ferries for Scottish shipowner CMAL, ensuring work for the shipyard until 2029.
