Norway’s Vard to build a fully electrical passenger ferry in Braila

Vard, one of the world leaders in specialized shipbuilding, secures the contract for the construction of one car- and passenger ferry for Norway’s Boreal and the hull of the vessel will be built on its facility in Braila, a press release informs.

Delivery of the ferry is scheduled from Vard Brevik in Norway in 3Q 2019. The ferry will commence operations in Norway from January 2020, crossing Kvanndal-Utne at the west-coast of Norway, where Boreal has been awarded a nine-year contract with the Norwegian government.

“We are delighted to welcome Boreal as a new client to Vard, and look forward to building the battery-powered ferry, in which we can utilize our strong expertise in battery technology for efficient and environmentally friendly vessels,” Roy Reite, CEO and Executive Director of Vard, said.

The new car- and passenger ferry features a fully electrical battery solution for continuous electric operations, and is specially designed for environmentally friendly operations in the Norwegian fjords. The ferry, designed by Multi Maritime, will measure 74 meters in length with a beam of 14.20 meters, and will have a total capacity of up to 60 cars and 199 passengers and crew.

Boreal is a leading nationwide public transport provider in Norway. The company operates buses, coaches, trams, high-speed passenger ferries and car ferries.

Headquartered in Norway and with approximately 9,000 employees, Vard operates nine strategically located shipbuilding facilities, including five in Norway, two in Romania – Tulcea and Braila, one in Brazil and one in Vietnam.

Vard Braila had nearly 1,400 employees at the end of 2016 and a turnover of RON 171 million and a loss of RON 17 million.