Four autonomous ferries lined up for Norway

A land-based control centre will monitor and potentially remotely control the vessels, which will have a capacity of 399 passengers and crew and 120 passenger cars.

The four vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2026 to Fjord1, Norway’s largest ferry owner and operator with 81 vessels, which was bought by DIF Capital Partners in October 2023.

The contract, the first of its kind for passenger vessels, was signed after the Norwegian Public Road Administration awarded a long-term public transport tender to Fjord1 for the 5km Lavik-Oppedal crossing north of Bergen along Norway’s west coast.

The plan is to introduce more and more autonomous features, such as auto-crossing and auto-docking, until they are fully autonomous.

Designed by Norwegian architect HAV Design, the 120m long vessels follow the delivery of two other battery-propelled ferries alo designed by HAV and built at Tersan.

Sunnylvsfjord and sister ship Norddalsfjord are 84 metres in length and can carry 248 passengers and crew and 80 cars.

“We are again honored to collaborate with Fjord1, a visionary partner committed to environmental stewardship,” said Mehmet Gazioğlu CEO of Tersan Shipyard. “Together, we are shaping the future of maritime transport.

“With the deliveries of two ferries and contracts for four new ferries, Fjord1 and Tersan have strengthened their collaboration. Considering the challenges ahead in terms of building autonomous vessels while the autonomous rules and regulations are being developed simultaneously, we are more than glad that we have been awarded with these contracts representing the trust we have built in Fjord1.”