On Thursday June 8th, the World’s First Commercial Emission-Free Autonomous Passenger Ferry was inaugurated at Norr Mälarstrand in Stockholm, where the ferry line will start operating regularly. The ferry company Torghatten and the Norwegian technology company Zeabuz are behind the pioneering mobility concept in Stockholm.
“With its electric, self-driving capabilities and advanced digital security, Estelle sets the stage for future advancements in the industry,” said Stein Andre Herigstad-Olsen, CEO of Torghatten AS. “We are incredibly proud to be part of this historic moment, launching the world’s first commercial, emission-free, electric, autonomous passenger ferry right in the heart of a Scandinavian metropolis.
The Swedish capital is the first in the world to have achieved the feat of delivering an automated passenger ferry, with a capacity of 25 people, paving the way to solving problems related to congestion while addressing environmental pollution. Self-driving ferries have the potential to provide a safe, efficient, and sustainable transport solution for urban waterways, helping reduce costs and the impact of ferry transport on the environment.
The ambition is a leaner operation with smarter technology. In Stockholm we will prove that this technology is mature.
Øyvind Smogeli, CTO at Zeabuz
Torghatten envisions a future where autonomous ferries, operating under the brand name Zeam (Zero Emission Autonomous Mobility), seamlessly connect neighborhoods and cities worldwide. Zeabuz’s contribution includes developing advanced autonomous technology and ensuring the ferry operates efficiently and securely.
The MF Estelle has a crew of one person in addition to a control room on land. The crew consisting of a captain will be guiding passengers, while the trip will be monitored from a control room. The goal is to control everything from the control room in the long term. The ferry has an open, covered passenger deck with boarding and disembarking at both ends and is 12 meters long.
The vessel was built by the Brødrene Aa Shipyard, which has started operating in 1947. The shipyard has created novel building methods and constructed energy-efficient carbon fiber vessels. According to the shipbuilding company, its ferries are designed to be lightweight, energy-efficient, and capable of high speeds.
The project started at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, which led to the founding of Zeabuz, a Norwegian technology company founded in 2018 and based in Oslo. Zeabuz’s ferries are equipped with advanced sensors and navigation systems, allowing them to operate autonomously and avoid obstacles. The ferries can also be remotely monitored and controlled by a shore-based operator if needed.
Initially, the ferry will operate four departures per hour, gradually increasing to a departure every 15 minutes for 15 hours daily. This phased approach optimizes energy consumption and travel patterns.
