The Estonian State Fleet has announced a call for tender for the design and construction of a new, battery-powered electric ferry to serve the main islands in Estonia. Estonian Minister of Infrastructure, Vladimir Svet, expressed pride in Estonia’s leadership in adopting environmentally sustainable technologies in the maritime sector. The new ferry, similar in size and capacity to existing vessels, will be more economical and environmentally sustainable, primarily powered by green electricity stored in onboard batteries.
The new ferry project, led by the Estonian State Fleet, aims to be at least 66% more energy-efficient than the reference vessel. It will feature modern amenities such as an onboard restaurant, retail shop, lounge areas, and crew cabins, with full accessibility for passengers with disabilities. With a capacity for 500 passengers and around 130 vehicles, the ferry will ensure quicker loading to maintain current schedules. The vessel must meet ice class 1B regulations and be between 100 to 114 meters in length to accommodate specific harbor characteristics.
The new ferry will serve the Virtsu-Kuivastu route in Estonia, with the option to operate on the Rohuküla-Heltermaa route if needed. The deadline for tender submissions for the vessel’s construction and design is December 10, 2024, with completion scheduled for February 2027. Funding for the ferry project comes from the European Modernisation Fund and CO2 emissions trading revenues. For more information on the tender, visit the Estonian Procurement Register.
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