ABB Supplying Electric Power Solution For Icelandic Ferry

ABB will supply integrated power and electric storage solutions for a new Icelandic ferry.
The 70 m-long Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration ferry has a capacity of 550 passengers and 75 cars and will take 3600 annual trips between Landeyjahöfn on the mainland and the Westman Island, covering 13 km in about 45 minutes.
The vessel will incorporate a large battery pack (3000 kWh) and is designed to operate in a fully electric mode most of the time, with onshore charging in both harbors. During particularly challenging weather conditions, when the consumption of battery power may exceed the available energy, the ferry will utilize its diesel-electric generator set, the company said. The gen-set is powered by a MTU 12V 4000 M64 engine. The engine offers 2679 hp at 1800 rpm and has a bore and stroke of 170 X 210 mm.

The new ferry, designed by Polarkonsult and due for delivery from the Crist S.A. shipyard this year, will replace the 1992-built MF Herjólfur in line with Iceland’s incentives to promote electric modes of transportation. With 80% of Iceland’s energy coming from non-fossil resources, led by hydropower and geothermal energy, the newbuilt vessel will be well positioned to support Iceland’s sustainability goals.

“Opting for ABB’s electric solutions allows the vessel to meet design constraints that initially seem in conflict: it is optimized for cleaner operation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, whilst power is sufficient to navigate some very hazardous waters safely,” said Sigurdur Gretarsson, Director of Maritime Division, Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration.

ABB’s power distribution system Onboard DC Grid will ensure the high efficiency of the new ferry by allowing the batteries to connect directly to the DC link, which helps avoids losses of power during charging and discharging. Additionally, the system can allow for variable speed operation of the diesel engines, which results in reduced fuel consumption.

The scope of ABB supply also includes generators, transformers, switchboards, the Power and Energy Management System (PEMS) and the Energy Storage Control System (ESCS). The ferry will be connected to ABB Ability™ Collaborative Centers Infrastructure. This network uses remote equipment monitoring and data analytics to enable remote technical support, as well as predictive maintenance and planned interventions.

The shore power connection delivered by ABB to recharge the battery offers 2500 kW. On average, it will take about 30 minutes to recharge while the ferry is in the dock.

“Selection of ABB’s technologies for a vessel operating on such a tough route, where the water depth is sometimes limited to 4.5 m, but wave heights can reach 3.5 m, sets a new benchmark for battery power on board a ship,” said Juha Koskela, managing director, ABB Marine & Ports.  “In line with our vision for electric, digital and connected shipping, this project demonstrates how system integration – whether on board the ship or between the ship’s crew and shoreside expertise – is a key success factor for vessel management.”

The new ferry will not only reduce the environmental impact but also improve the regularity of the connection. Previously, during rough weather, the ferry operating the route would travel to an alternative harbor to dock safely, extending the sailing time from 45 minutes to close to 3 hours and causing motion sickness in passengers. The new ferry will be able to enter the destination harbor in challenging weather conditions most of the time, with the rare exception of particularly rough seas.