Fjord1 took over the operation of the national road ferries across the Tysfjord in Nordland today (1 December 2022), and will soon have the world’s longest electric ferry connection.
The new ferry contract between the Statens Vegvesen and Fjord1 covers both national road 827 between Drag and Kjøpsvik and E6 between Bognes and Skarberget.
The contract runs until 2032.
According to the contract, all the ordinary ferries across the Tysfjord must be operated with electricity. Now starts the test period between Drag and Kjøpsvik, which hosts the country’s – and the world’s – longest electric ferry connection.
Fjord1 put in three vessels, which have been rebuilt to be suitable for electric ferry operation.
Ferries LOTE and GLUTRA are already in place on the E6 between Bognes and Skarberget. However, the ferry quays are not adapted to electric operation yet, due to delays in the delivery of a new power line to Bognes. The ferry quays must be fully rebuilt and ready for electric operation by the autumn.
Thus, FANNEFJORD will be the first to launch electric operation across the Tysfjord when the vessel is completed in the new year. With a crossing of 14.8 kilometres, this is the world’s longest electric ferry connection.
In the meantime, the reserve ferry SULAFJORD will take the traffic between Drag and Kjøpsvik.