Norwegian ferry operator Norled has awarded Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) a contract to supply three 4MW onshore charging stations. The MCS solution will be installed at three different ports in Norway.
The charging stations are DC chargers based on the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). They will thus offer the proprietary charging connector and will be installed “towards the end of 2026.” The chargers will support Norled’s growing fleet of battery-hybrid ferries on key coastal routes. The latter will use three battery-hybrid ferries (and one conventional one) on the Stokkvågen-Lovund and Stokkvågen-Træna ferry routes starting in 2027.
The contract, valued at around NOK 40 million (approximately €3.4 million), includes the full engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the charging infrastructure. NES will install the stations at three separate ferry quaysides, ensuring seamless and efficient charging turnaround for Norled’s hybrid vessels.
The move comes as part of Norled’s broader strategy to decarbonise its fleet in line with Norwegian climate targets. The company, one of Norway’s largest ferry operators, has been at the forefront of zero-emission maritime technology, including hydrogen and fully electric propulsion systems. Norled currently operates several hybrid ferries and recently launched one of the world’s first hydrogen-powered ferries, ‘MF Hydra’.
Onshore charging stations are critical to the operational viability of hybrid vessels, enabling rapid recharging between short crossings and helping ferry operators comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations in Norwegian waters. The high 4 MW output ensures rapid turnaround, minimising port-side dwell times and maintaining service schedules without compromising on energy needs.
“With the delivery of these three charging stations, we will have built up a solid track record of 30 onshore charging stations. We are very pleased that Norled has opted for our MCS solution, which is a manual, quick and cost-efficient method for connecting high charging effects. Quick charging is ideal for passenger and transport ferries such as these,” says Mads Ulstein, senior vice president of sales at NES.
On a side note: all four ferries for Norled will be built at the Norwegian shipyard Tersan Leirvik. Last year, NES won a contract with the latter to supply parts for ferries, including the “power solution, battery packs, and navigation system.”
“To be able to support Tersan Leirvik and Norled, respectively, on this project is something we are proud of. Substantial equipment delivered to the four ferries coupled with onshore charging stations underline our position as a complete supplier of electrification solutions to the maritime industry,” says Siv Remøy-Vangen, managing director of NES parent company HAV Group’s energy design and smart control systems business.
inderes.dk, offshore-energy.biz, linkedin.com
