This is Brødrene Aa’s largest single contract ever, with a total contract value of NOK 420 million for the three new high speed ferries.
Brødrene Aa has entered into a contract with Norled for the construction of three 45-metre long ferries that will run along the Trøndelag coast. Two of the ferries will operate the route between Trondheim and Kristiansund. The third ferry will go between Trondheim and Brekstad on Ørlandet.
In the autumn, AtB awarded the tender contracts for these routes to Norled, starting in January 2024. It has now been decided that the boats will be built by Brødrene Aa.
A new battery solution
The three high speed ferries are to be equipped with the battery exchange solution SHIFTR, a system where battery packs are exchanged at route calls, and are replaced with fully charged battery packs that are taken on board.
The battery replacement solution SHIFTR comes as a result of a Pilot-E development project led by Norled, in which Brødrene Aa has participated, and which has been ongoing for several years. An agreement has been made that the exchange solution will be piloted on two existing ferries built by Brødrene Aa, the Baron and the Baroness. The two catamarans have been in operation for Ruter in the Oslofjord since 2009.
The brothers Aa and Norled recently entered into the formal contract for the conversion of these two vessels to fully electric operation, and SHIFTR will then be put into use on an ordinary route for the first time.
– A big leap towards zero emissions
– We are of course happy that we have landed these contracts with Norled. They are very important to us in several ways, says Tor Øyvin Aa, day-to-day manager of Brødrene Aa.
– Firstly, it contributes to good and predictable activity, after some challenging years for the company. At the same time, we are now taking another big leap on the road to zero emissions for high speed ferries
The government recently came out with a goal of zero emissions in all new fast boat contracts from 2025. With the project on which agreements have now been made, the brothers Aa and Norled have demonstrated technology that brings the industry a long step forward in meeting this challenge.
– We look forward to offering environmentally friendly and pleasant speedboat trips between Trondheim and Kristiansund, as well as Trondheim and Ørlandet, says managing director of Norled, Heidi Wolden.
Close cooperation partners
– Together with projects that are already in production, we will deliver vessels and conversions worth over NOK 900 million to Norled until the end of 2024, says Tor Øyvin Aa.
– It is clear that with this Norled has become a very important customer for Brødrene Aa. At the same time, we have become close collaboration partners, where together we promote new, sustainable technological solutions.
Brødrene Aa currently has 150 employees. With the increase in activity, the yard will need to employ more people throughout the summer and autumn, both in Eikefjord and in Hyen. Recruitment activities to ensure sufficient capacity are already underway.
