Aronnax (in conjunction with LR): Torghatten Nord’s hydrogen AiP and the move away from LNG

When Norway’s road administration, which sets out tenders for new ferries around the country’s rugged coastline, wanted to put a new request for vessels to go on the Bodø – Lofoten routes, it decided that it wanted zero emission solutions only.

The route is a big one, it’s over 100km across an open expanse of North Norway’s often stormy and exposed waters, and the route is currently operated by Torghatten Nord.

They went to Norwegian Ship Design to get a ship that they believed could win the tender, and that design, which has got compressed hydrogen and fuel cells has now for Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register.

This is a green light for the design to progress further as the company needs these vessels in the water by October 2025.

When they are in service, the two existing vessels, which are about 10 years old, and  LNG fuelled will have diesel engines installed to let them stay in service using bio-diesel.