Overview of shipyards building the 13 new ferries for Fjord1. Credit: Fjord1.

Rolls-Royce Marine has secured a contract to provide its autocrossing system to a total of 13 new environmentally friendly ferries to be operated by Norway’s Fjord1.

Under the deal, Rolls-Royce will also provide two azipull propellers with an accompanying propeller control system for each vessel.

Five of the ferries are being built by Havyard Ship Technology in Norway and another three by Sefine Shipyard in Turkey.

Sefine Shipyard and Cemre Shipyard are building two ferries each, while Norway’s Fjellstrand is developing one ferry for Fjord1.

With the latest contract from Fjord1, Rolls-Royce has sold autocrossing to a total of 18 new ferries that will operate along the coast of Norway.

Rolls-Royce Electro, Automation and Control senior vice-president Andreas Seth said: “Five of the new vessels will operate in one of Norway’s two designated test areas for autonomous ship technology.

“This is a perfect location as the autocrossing system from Rolls-Royce is indeed a step on the journey towards increased autonomous and remote navigation.”

“The autocrossing system from Rolls-Royce is indeed a step on the journey towards increased autonomous and remote navigation.”

Fjord1’s ferries will be designed to have strict yearly limits on energy consumption as part of a commercial agreement between the company and the Government of Norway.

Using the autocrossing system from Rolls-Royce, the ferries will be able to conduct safe, predictable and energy-efficient journeys back and forth by automatically controlling their acceleration, deceleration, speed and track.

The ferries will also benefit from the two Rolls-Royce azipull thrusters, which are designed to respond adaptively to environmental conditions to ensure optimal behaviour and maximise efficiency.

Only the vessel’s captain will be able to supervise the automatic system and intervene using traditional manoeuvring systems if required.