The leading Maritime Trade Fair at Hamburg offers recognition for the ship of the year. In 2018, the recipient of the award is a unique and future-forward ship from a Norwegian shipyard, which also won in 2016. The ship of the year in 2018 is the Future of the Fjords, an all-electric carbon fiber vessel. By contrast, the Vision of the Fjords that won in 2016 was a hybrid approach, which suggests shipyard Brødrene Aa and the Fjords company are invested in the future of the marine industry. Let’s take a closer look at the Future of the Fjords.
Zero Emissions
The unique energy solution of this ship’s dock was what pushed it over the edge as the ship of the year. At the port, the CEO of The Fjords indicated that there was low local grid capacity which could only charge half of what the ship required. In the end, they settled on a floating battery bank that could top up the capacity from the grid all day long without expensive and disruptive power surges.
This power dock charging option was what allowed the Future of the Fjords to win the title this year.
Black Water
However, the ship’s design and build team also took the idea of zero emissions seriously and to the next level. Recognizing a problem with other local vessels that dumped black water into the fjords themselves, the dock at the Future of the Fjords added the ability to collect waste from other ships in the area.
It also added a diesel tank which would fuel the sister ship, the Vision of the Fjords.
Power Docks for Green Energy
While the ship itself is certainly impressive, the real winner of the competition was their innovative power dock which could revolutionize the shipping industry around the world. Green energy is at the top of minds for ship designers and builders across all continents, and this provides a road map to success.
Passenger Experience
Of course, the ship wouldn’t have won the honor without paying attention to the overall passenger experience. The ship now makes about 700 round trips each year. There are amazing views of the naturally majestic fjords from inside the ship. The Future of the Fjord also offers accessibility to the fjords for all passengers with limited mobility.
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