The Fjords takes delivery of second all-electric cat

Written by Nick Blenkey
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Legacy of the Fjords striking design mirrors zig zagging mountain paths that can be seen from its decks.

Norwegian operator The Fjords has taken delivery of a second all-electric vessel, Legacy of The Fjords, which will join her sister ship Future of The Fjords and plug-in hybrid Vision of The Fjords in providing tourists an unparalleled experience in the spectacular landscapes on the west coast of Norway.

All three vessels were designed and constructed by Norwegian shipyard Brødrene Aa, with a light weight carbon fiber catamaran hull that echoes the zigzagging mountain paths that can be seen from their decks.

Refinements introduced in Legacy of The Fjords include that it can be charged and loaded on both sides, and passengers can board or exit from either the port or starboard entryways. In addition, the vessel has space for three dedicated conference zones, each one equipped with projectors, screens and audio systems.

The NOK 130 million (about $14 million) vessel is propelled by two 450 kW electric motors, enabling cruising speeds of 16 knots. Together with Brødrene Aa, the company developed a unique charging station called the Power Dock, a 40 m long, 5 m wide floating glass-fiber charging station. The station houses a 2.4 MWh battery pack, allowing for a stable, efficient and cost-effective charging time of about 20 minutes. The dock also stores consumables, fuel for sister vessels, and allows black water to be offloaded for treatment on land.

Since it was established in 2015, The Fjords’ investments in pioneering technologies have earned the company much recognition. In 2017, the company’s plug-in hybrid vessel, Vision of The Fjords, won the Universal Accessibility Award from the Norwegian Center for Design and Architecture (DOGA), for its commitment to optimal passenger accessibility, experience and environmental sustainability. In 2018, the all-electric Future of The Fjords was named the “Ship of the Year” at SMM exhibition in Hamburg.

“Like her sister ships, the Legacy of The Fjords is truly remarkable, but we don’t build ships to win awards,” says John Vonli, Managing Director og The Fjords. “We build to enrich the passenger experience and to preserve this important UNESCO World Heritage site.”

Legacy of The Fjords is expected to enter service on July 17, ferrying passengers between Flåm and Nærøyfjorden.

Vonli notes that the Servogear Ecoflow propulsion system aboard the Legacy of The Fjords is not only a zero-emissions solution, it enhances the passenger experience. “Unlike noisy diesel engines which emit exhaust, the all-electric engines found on the Legacy of The Fjords are clean and silent,” he says. “Passengers can now glide effortlessly over the water and come closer to nature than ever before.”

Facts – Legacy of The Fjords:

Length: 42.23 meters

Beam: 15.5 m

Materials: Carbon fiber sandwich

Seats: 400

Class: DNV GL light craft

E-motor: 2 x 450 kW

Propeller: CPP propeller

Battery pack: 1,800 kWh

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