SOLUTION / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Selfa Arctic has delivered the world’s first hybrid fishing boat
- Published 7 July 2022; updated 30 September 2026; estimated reading time 3 minutes. Listed under Maritime, Battery / Application and Energy.
- Selfa Arctic and Siemens built Karoline in 2015 for North Norwegian fisherman Bent Gabrielsen. The vessel combines two battery packs with 195 kWh total capacity and a 500-litre diesel engine, powering a full fishing day. It runs on diesel to and from fishing grounds and switches to battery power while fishing and loading/unloading, for nearly three hours per day; batteries recharge overnight in port.
- The article reports fuel savings close to 70% and says the electrical supply had operated without faults after three years. It describes Karoline as a pilot whose performance was monitored by SINTEF; data were intended to inform later hybrid designs. These are article-era reported outcomes, not a current independent assessment.
- Besides fuel and emissions reductions, the page says electric operation lowers engine noise and exhaust exposure for fishermen. With engine noise reduced, pump and machinery sounds are easier to hear, which the article says may improve maintenance and onboard safety. It reports that Karoline operated north of the Arctic Circle.
- Selfa was working on updated hybrid fishing boats and applying experience from Karoline to low- and zero-emission aquaculture products. Market context cites over 2.5 million small motorised fishing boats worldwide and says small boats make up as much as 91% of motorised inland-fishery vessels; these are attributed figures from the FAO source.
- Linked to SDGs 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and 14 (Life below water).
- Contact: Erik Ianssen, erik@selfa.no. Company: SELFA ARCTIC AS, Rødskjærveien 2, 9430 Sandtorg, Norway; selfa.no. A phone-number reveal control is present.