Norway showcases award-winning electric ferry technology
Page date: published 7 June 2023; updated 30 September 2026; 4 min read (as rendered).
The updated page says that as of August 2026, Norway had 111 electric car and passenger ferries in service. It names MS Ampere, operated by Norled since 2015, as the first fully electric passenger ferry, and MS Medstraum, serving Stavanger-area communities since 2022, as the first fully electric high-speed ferry. The page attributes roughly 1,500 tonnes of annual CO₂ savings and 30% lower energy use to Medstraum. Bastø Fosen is described as operating the world’s largest electric ferry on an Oslofjord commuter route.
Medstraum was developed through the EU-funded TrAM project, with 14 partners across Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. The article says EU funding covered about 20% of construction cost and Rogaland county also shared project risk; Kolumbus bought the vessel in 2021. It notes remaining barriers to ferry electrification: vessel cost, battery weight, charging access and tender complexity.
The page says Norwegian zero-emission requirements for passenger ships and ferries under 10,000 GT in World Heritage fjords begin in 2026, with larger vessels following in 2032. It also names Hyke’s electric autonomy-ready ferries and a Fjellstrand contract with GulenSkyss. Policy dates, fleet counts and operational details are claims from the page and may change.
Related links: Battery; Transportation; Energy; Maritime.