Launching the World's First Commercial, Emission-Free, Autonomous Passenger Ferry in the Heart of the City.
MF Estelle will be inaugurated and christened at Norr Mälarstrand in Stockholm on June 8, where the ferry line will start operating regularly.
The ferry company Torghatten and the Norwegian technology company Zeabuz are behind the pioneering mobility concept in Stockholm.
Stein Andre Herigstad-Olsen, CEO of Torghatten AS, expresses his excitement, stating, "Estelle is a sustainable and green pioneer, offering a solution to traffic congestion and inspiring alternative modes of transportation. With its electric, self-driving capabilities and advanced digital security, Estelle sets the stage for future advancements in the industry. We are incredibly proud to be part of this historic moment, launching the world's first commercial, emission-free, electric, autonomous passenger ferry right in the heart of a Scandinavian metropolis."
This remarkable venture aims to create a network of virtual bridges, utilizing waterways to alleviate road congestion and promote affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe urban mobility.
Torghatten, supported by Zeabuz's cutting-edge technology, envisions a future where autonomous ferries, operating under the brand name Zeam (Zero Emission Autonomous Mobility), seamlessly connect neighborhoods and cities worldwide. Zeabuz's contribution includes the development of advanced autonomous technology, ensuring that the ferry operates efficiently and securely.
Erik Dyrkoren, CEO of Zeabuz, shares his vision for the future: "We aim to radically change the way we think about mobility by creating shortcuts in cities, utilizing urban waterways as virtual bridges, enabled by the Zeabuz autonomy solutions. Our collaboration with Torghatten seeks to connect communities affordably and sustainably, not only in Stockholm but in the large number of cities with navigable waters worldwide. The launch of this service marks a significant step towards realizing this vision."
Scalable and adaptable for lean and safe operations
Zeabuz is on a mission to make waterborne mobility sustainable, safe, and profitable. The company provides a suite of adaptable autonomy solutions that offer optimized vessel operations and innovative human-machine cooperation. All Zeabuz’s products are built on flexible and modular system architecture, enabling adaptation to specific segments, vessel types, and operations. Zeabuz was founded in 2019 as a spin-off of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's progressive research centre for autonomous marine operations and systems.
Zeabuz also recently teamed up with Singaporean Yinson Green Tech, planning to boost the safety and efficiency of their new fleet of electric harbour crafts.
“Safety always comes first, and with the full range of autonomy levels, we are confident this will be of great value to maritime operators. The ambition is a leaner operation with smarter technology. In Stockholm, we will prove that this technology is mature and ready”, Smogeli says.
Equipped with state-of-the-art autonomous technology, MF Estelle will initially have an operator on board. However, the ultimate goal is for the ferry to become fully self-driving, monitored from the shore.
MF Estelle's regular operations are scheduled to commence on Monday, June 12. Initially, the ferry will operate four departures per hour, gradually increasing to eight departures every hour for 15 hours a day. This phased approach optimizes energy consumption and travel patterns.