Cavotec powers battery-driven passenger ferry

The glorious waters of the Swedish capital are a little cleaner today, and a little quieter, thanks to one of our innovative shore power systems which is being used to charge a battery-powered passenger ferry.

The project involves Echandia Marine and global engineering group ABB. Cavotec has supplied a cable reel, a connector and a radio remote control (RRC) unit for a system which charges 34 battery packs on board the E/S Movitz, a small passenger vessel which ferries commuters and tourists around the islands of central Stockholm. 

The Cavotec motorised cable reel and connector ensure the safe and efficient transmission of electrical current, (DC), from land, while the system itself is remotely operated by a Cavotec RRC 2-3 unit.

Two electric motors, or pods, provide propulsion and steering for the ferry, and generate 125kW of power. On a single charge, the vessel can operate for up to 90 minutes. The Movitz also has two diesel generators on board as back-up in the event of battery failure.

The ferry can even be fitted with solar panels or fuel cells. Emissions from the Movitz are therefore virtually nil, compared to 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide, three tonnes of nitrogen oxide and 160kg of particulate matter which the ferry generated in the past using conventional diesel propulsion. 

Furthermore, the only sound on this ferry are passengers chatting and waves lapping around the hull. 

This application shows how emissions can be cut effectively and efficiently. How's your Swedish? If it's good, you can read more about this application on ABB's website here.