Page 48: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2023)

NOR-SHIPPING 2023

Northern Explorer

Brim Explorer “Seeing how ABB worked and supported the

The Brim is a fully-electric, [Vision of the Fjords] project proved to us that aluminium-hulled vessel providing we have a partner who is working hard not whale-watching tours out of only to meet our expectations, but is going northern Norway’s picturesque above and beyond what one can expect,” – Rolf Sandvik, Northern Explorer town, Tromsø.

But all funding options are open and, further down the track,

Ambitious Entrepreneurs a listing on Oslo Børs or an initial public offering could be

Although many initiatives are undertaken by ambitious cor- possible. A key plus point is that the ship’s energy and propul- porates, Norway also has a thriving community of entrepre- sion technology will be both scalable and transferable. In a few neurial individuals who embark on creative projects that could years’ time, fjord transport in Norway could be mostly electric. expand rapidly as decarbonisation becomes more urgent. Rolf

This is exactly what motivates Ágnes Árnadottir and her

Sandvik and his Northern Explorer development project is business partner Espen Larsen-Hakkebo, the entrepreneurial one such example.

founders of the Brim Explorer enterprise. The Brim is a fully-

Sandvik was previously Chief Executive of passenger cruise company, The Fjords, where he oversaw the construction and electric, aluminium-hulled vessel providing whale-watching introduction of two electric sightseeing vessels, Vision of the tours out of northern Norway’s picturesque town, Tromsø. A

Fjords and Future of the Fjords, on Norway’s Geirangerfjord, second vessel, Berg, operates in Svalbard and Tromsø, and a third ship, Brisen, is deployed in Oslo. Two more vessels are a World Heritage Site. under construction.

More recently, he embarked on the Northern Explorer ven-

The electric drive technology has a range of bene? ts, Lars- ture, a completely sustainable cruise vessel that will operate with three ships in Norway. A letter of intent has been signed en-Hakkebo tells Maritime Reporter, that will ultimately be- come scalable. And the technology is developing fast. Electric with Portugal’s West Sea shipyard. Meanwhile, Sandvik’s ear- lier experience with power and propulsion specialist, ABB, power enables a direct drive to a larger propeller with propul- sive ef? ciency of around 80%. Meanwhile, the carbon-? ber secured them a place on the development team. “Seeing how ABB worked and supported the [Vision of the construction of the Brisen enables a slightly larger hull struc-

Fjords] project proved to us that we have a partner who is ture but a weight reduction of 20 tonnes.

These projects, amongst many others, will demonstrate ship- working hard not only to meet our expectations, but is going ping’s ingenuity and, ultimately, its ability to adapt. Maritime above and beyond what one can expect,” Sandvik says.

Now the venture is in the process of raising capital and history is dotted with sea changes in ship propulsion technol- hopes to have the ? rst vessel on the water by 2026. Sandvik ogy but none has been as fundamental or as urgent as the in- dustry faces today. There is likely to be one clear message from and his colleagues have met more challenges than they ex-

Nor-Shipping this year – doing nothing is not an option. pected – Covid, the war in Ukraine, steel prices, in? ation. 48 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • May 2023

MR #5 (34-49).indd 48 5/1/2023 11:41:15 AM