Hvide Sande, Denmark – Hvide Sande Shipyard A/S is proud to announce that it has won the contract for newbuild number 159, a state-of-the-art electric hybrid ferry, for Tjörns Hamnar AB in Sweden. The ferry will be Hvide Sande Shipyard’s tenth newbuild featuring advanced electric/hybrid technology, thereby strengthening the shipyard’s position as one of the leading providers of environmentally friendly maritime solutions in Northern Europe.

The new ferry, designed by FKAB Marine Design, is intended to replace the ferry Hakefjord, which has served the routes between the islands of Tjörn, Tjörnekalv, Åstol, and Stora Dyrön northwest of Gothenburg since its delivery from Hvide Sande Shipyard back in 1998.

“It is a great honor to deliver another ferry to Tjörns Hamnar AB. It is not only a fine addition to the shipyard’s resume but also a testament to the continuity and dedication that Hvide Sande Shipyard represents,” says Group CEO Carl Erik Kristensen, who also helped build Hakefjord during his apprenticeship as a ship carpenter in the late 1990s.

Capacity Increase and Transition to Hybrid Operation

With a length of 27 meters, the new ferry offers space for up to 180 passengers, including indoor seating for 75 people, representing a capacity increase of about 50% compared to its predecessor, Hakefjord.

The newbuild stands out with its innovative electric hybrid operation, where powerful electric motors drive the propellers, supported by a battery bank charged using electricity from shore for normal operation or a diesel generator that can run on biofuel for longer voyages if necessary.

This shift from traditional diesel operation to electric hybrid technology is a clear proof of Hvide Sande Shipyard’s commitment to the green transition and the shipyard’s strategy to deliver vessels that perfectly fit the customers’ needs and environmental responsibilities.

With the two ongoing ferry constructions, including the upcoming electric ferry for Torghatten in Norway, Hvide Sande Shipyard continues to cement its position as one of the most experienced and professional shipbuilders in Northern Europe within electric and hybrid ferries.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of the green transition and to offer our customers ships that are not only technologically advanced but also ideally sized for efficient operation and service,” says Jeppe Hoff, COO at Hvide Sande Shipyard.

Passenger ship number 21

The new ferry, which will also be the shipyard’s passenger ship number 21, is expected to sail from Hvide Sande in the fall of 2025.

Hvide Sande Shipyard A/S is a Danish shipyard with a strong tradition of quality and innovation in shipbuilding. With a history spanning over seven decades, the shipyard has specialized in the construction of electric hybrid ferries and other special vessels that support the green transition and contribute to a more sustainable future.

About Tjörns Hamnar AB

Tjörns Hamnar AB is a Swedish port operator that manages several port facilities and ferry routes connecting the islands in the northwest of Gothenburg. The company is dedicated to improving transportation options for both locals and visitors while maintaining a strong focus on environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Hvide Sande Shipyard is both proud and humbled to have received the order for the yard’s 20th passenger vessel – a 100% electric ferry and the yard’s largest to date – for the Norwegian ferry company Torghatten.

With more than 125 years of experience, it is an experienced company that Hvide Sande Shipyard is pleased to be working with to build a new 50-meter all-electric ferry. “Torghatten is a very qualified customer, and this has been evident throughout the process. They know exactly what they want and what they do not want. It is a great advantage for a project like this that both parties know what is required,” says Carl Erik Kristensen, CEO of Seasight Group. “We look forward to working together and delivering a good quality vessel to Torghatten on time.”

The ferry will have a capacity of 30 cars and up to 149 passengers and will operate in the Tromsø area north of the Arctic Circle. The project is already well underway and the hull is expected to be delivered to Hvide Sande in the summer of 2025 so that outfitting can begin.

Familiar technology, but on a larger scale

This is not the first time that Hvide Sande Shipyard has built an electric ferry. The technology is therefore well known and there has been good experience with similar ferries, one of which was built for Torghatten’s sister company Molslinjen.

“The difference lies in the fact that the upcoming construction involves a battery pack of almost 4 megawatt hours, which is about four times larger than what we have built so far. We are therefore looking forward to applying our experience with the basic concept on a larger scale,” says the yard’s COO, Jeppe Hoff.

Torghatten is also excited about the collaboration: “It is important to develop and strengthen competence in new and environmentally friendly ship technology in Scandinavia. We are therefore very pleased to have landed this contract with a Danish shipyard,” says Marius Hansen, CEO of Torghatten Nord.

Green transition through alternative fuels – electric, hybrid, hydrogen and methanol

Alternative fuels have long been part of the strategy at the Danish Shipyard. In fact, Hvide Sande Shipyard already has 9 new builds with either fully electric or hybrid solutions in the engine room.

“It means a lot to us to be part of the green transition in shipping and we are happy to be able to use our experience from our previous projects for the further transition of ferry operations in Northern Europe,” says Jeppe Hoff.

Although electricity is still the most used alternative fuel in shipping, Hvide Sande is also working with other solutions. Two projects are currently underway to convert vessels to hydrogen and methanol propulsion, respectively.

Ship building since 1950

Hvide Sande Shipyard was established in 1950 with a focus on new building, maintenance and repair of local fishing vessels. Since 1990, the yard has also built ferries and workboats, and for the past 12 years, the green transition in shipping has been an important part of the activities. The new ferry for Torghatten will be Hvide Sande Shipyard’s newbuilding number 158.

Between 2019 and 2021, Hvide Sande Shipyard has built 5 STBs (Safe Transfer Boats) for the Esbjerg-based shipping company Esvagt, which provides safety and service at sea.

The STBs ESVAGT WIND 5-6-7-8-9 are 12 meter long vessels with aluminum hulls. With a crew of two boatmen, they can transport 8 service technicians and carry approx. 1 ton of spare parts for offshore installations in the North Sea and adjacent waters. They are launched up to 10 times a day from a davit crane arrangement on larger SOV motherships, but can also operate independently in and out of port. They are certified for a range of 200 nautical miles.

Powered by two Volvo Penta D6 engines, the vessels operate at speeds of up to 30 knots. It is a highly effective vessel that meets – and in many cases exceeds – customer expectations in terms of efficiency, versatility and reliability. Esvagt was responsible for the design, construction and specifications. The company also maintains the vessels.

Bjarne Mikkelsen, Senior Service Manager at Esvagt, explains the cooperation with Hvide Sande Shipyard:

“When we started the STB 12 project in 2014, 3D drawing technology was not as developed. So we built a full-size mock-up and moved the components around until everything worked optimally. For the construction of ships no. 5 – 9, we chose Hvide Sande Shipyard. We deliberately chose a Danish supplier in order to preserve Danish jobs.

CEO Carl Erik Kristensen visited us at the beginning of the project to have a look at a similar vessel. After a quarter of an hour, he was able to confirm that Hvide Sande Shipyard was capable of building such a vessel and gave us an approximate price. It added up!

Naturally, we were a little hesitant to start the process with a new supplier. But it turned out to be a fantastic collaboration. I had a goal that we would be as good friends and business partners at the end of the project as we were at the beginning – and it came true.

At Esvagt we never compromise when it comes to safety and quality. We knew that Hvide Sande Shipyard could deliver and that their organization and documentation processes are in place.

I know many of the employees from different contexts, and Hvide Sande Shipyard has always delivered good quality on time. All challenges along the way were solved in the best possible way.”