January 27, 2022

Norwegian Public Roads Administration and EQT-owned Torghatten Nord signed the contract to operate ‘Vestfjordstrekninga’ from 2025 till 2040. The ferries will run on hydrogen.

The contract is worth NOK 4.9 billion.

Vestfjordstrekninga connects Bodø, Røst, Værøy and Moskenes and is the longest ferry connection in Norway with 278 kilometres in total. Crossing the Vestfjorden between Bodø on the mainland and three islands in Lofoten involves a close to 100 km open ocean crossing above the Arctic Circle and is considered Norway’s most challenging ferry crossing.

Tourism makes the summer traffic very busy. It is also an important connection for the business development in the community.

Two new ferries will be used on Vestfjorden, with a minimum of 85% hydrogen-based fuels. The ferries will be bunkering between 5 and 6 tons of hydrogen per day.

The two ferries currently operating the routes will be converted from using LNG to use biofuels, and they will accompany the new ferries in the summer tourist season. The two hydrogen fuelled ferries will operate year-round and will daily require 5-6 t green hydrogen. They will also be able to use other fuels if needed.

From left Anders Sæternes (department director ferry, Statens Vegvesen), Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labor Party) and Torkild Torkildsen (CEO of Torghatten Nord).

Photo: Kent Even Grundstad / Torghatten Nord

Illustration: Gaute Larsen, Statens vegvesen

The new ferries will be about 120 m long and with capacity to carry 120 cars and 599 passengers.

The ships will be developed by Norwegian Ship Design .