Foreship to help Wasaline up hybrid ferry's energy storage capacity almost sixfold

Finland-based naval architecture and engineering consultancy Foreship has been contracted to support compatriot shipping company Wasaline in delivering a battery upgrade on MV Aurora Botnia that will see the ferry’s energy storage capacity increase nearly sixfold.

The ‘world-first’ retrofit will combine two battery chemistries in a hybrid solution that is expected to cut annual CO₂ emissions by up to 23%.

As informed, Foreship provided comprehensive technical and strategic support for the retrofit, building on the collaboration that began during the vessel’s initial design phase. The work included an extensive feasibility study covering technical impact evaluation, emissions modelling and cost analysis, later followed by supplier evaluation, classification design, engineering support, and implementation assistance.

“This is one of the most technically ambitious hybrid conversions yet attempted on a ro-pax ferry,”Joonatan Haukilehto, Head of New Technologies at Foreship, explained.

“By integrating high-power NMC batteries with energy dense LFP batteries, we have enabled Aurora Botnia to draw on the unique strengths of both battery chemistries. All of this has been achieved without requiring major changes to the vessel’s electrical infrastructure.