Rhys BerryHAV Group has announced that its energy design and smart control systems business, Norwegian Electric Systems (NES), has been contracted by ferry operator Fjord1 to deliver two onshore charging stations for use by the four autonomous, zero-emission ferries that will operate on the Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the west coast of Norway.
One onshore charging station will be installed at the berth in Lavik and the other in Oppedal. Lavik-Oppedal is a 5.6-kilometre-long ferry route that crosses the Sognefjord, on the west coast of Norway. The ferries will be close to fully charged in approximately 10 minutes while at port.
As previously reported by ship.energy, NES’ sister company, HAV Design, was contracted to deliver ship design and an engineering package to the vessels, which are scheduled to start operations from September 2026, earlier this year.
Under the contract, announced today (5 December), NES will supply two complete containerised onshore charging stations, including transformers, switchboards, control system and data collection system, plus the charging plug that connects the charging stations to the vessels.
‘Fjord1 is very pleased to enter this agreement with Norwegian Electric Systems for delivery of the charging stations to the Lavik-Oppedal ferry crossing,’ said Odd Bjarte Johnsen, Fjord1’s project manager. ‘This partnership represents one of many important steps towards more environmentally friendly ferry operations. We have received similar deliveries in the past and are very satisfied with the cooperation we have with NES.’
Delivery of the onshore charging stations is scheduled for 2026. NES, a subsidiary of HAV Group ASA, will manage the project out of its headquarters in Bergen, Norway. The company has not disclosed the value of the contract.
‘We have delivered multiple onshore charging stations in the past, so this is highly familiar territory for NES,’ said Siv Remøy-Vangen, managing director at NES. ‘That said, these charging stations will be further developed to meet the autonomous operations from the ferries, where also they will have some autonomous functions.’
The contract for the onshore charging stations is the third award Norwegian Electric Systems has received for the Lavik-Oppedal ferries.
In March this year, shipbuilder Tersan shipyard in Turkey contracted NES to act as system integrator and provide complete system deliveries for power system, automation and bridge design including navigation and communication solutions for the four ferries. Subsequently, at the end of May, Fjord1 contracted NES to develop systems for automation of vessel functions and autonomous navigation for the ferries.
‘To be awarded a third out of a possible three contracts for the Lavik-Oppedal ferries is a fantastic result,’ added Remøy-Vangen. ‘The completed delivery to the fjord crossing of Lavik-Oppedal represents the future of ferry transport. To be involved as a key cooperation partner for Fjord1 is something we do not take for granted. We will work extremely hard to ensure that we deliver according to Fjord1’s high expectations and quality requirements.’
Image: HAV Group
Ariane Morrissey
Ian Taylor
