Page 43: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2026)

In the Shipyard

From Design to Delivery

Estonian State Fleet Orders Ice-Class Hybrid-Electric Ferry

The march toward zero-emission fer- form in punishing Baltic winter condi- thrusters at both ends, delivering ma- ry transportation continues, and this tions. neuverability and additional power time the momentum is coming from That’s where this project gets in- for harsh winter operations.

the Baltic. teresting. Unlike many electric ferry CRIST is no stranger to technically

Estonian State Fleet has signed a concepts focused on shorter, tem- ambitious ferry projects, having pre- contract with Polish shipbuilder CRIST perate-water operations, Estonia’s viously delivered advanced low-

S.A. for the design and construc- new vessel is being built for genuine emission ferries for Scandinavian tion of what will become Estonia’s northern service. The ferry will feature operators. Likewise, naval architect ? rst fully electric passenger ferry, a a 3 MWh battery system charged LMG Marin brings deep pedigree, nearly €50 million investment that un- from shore infrastructure, enabling particularly in electric and hybrid fer- derscores how aggressively regional fully electric operations in routine ry design, with more than 200 ferries ferry operators are moving to mod- service. But the design also acknowl- in its portfolio.

ernize aging ? eets while cutting emis- edges maritime reality: batteries For shipbuilders, the contract is an- sions. alone do not solve every operational other indication that electri? cation is

Set for delivery in late 2028, the challenge. moving beyond demonstration proj- 100-meter vessel will serve the critical To address that, the vessel will in- ects and into mainstream procure-

Virtsu–Kuivastu route, a lifeline con- clude biodiesel-powered generators ment.

nection between mainland Estonia as backup, extending range to at For operators, the ef? ciency math and its islands. For Estonia, this is more least 1,000 nautical miles and ensur- is compelling. Estonia says the vessel than a vessel order. It is a strategic ing operational continuity during se- will be up to 64% more energy-ef? - infrastructure investment in reliability, vere weather, emergencies, or when cient than the diesel-powered Re- resilience and cleaner transporta- route requirements evolve. gula, the current benchmark vessel tion. Ferries are not optional in Estonia. This hybrid redundancy re? ects a in its ? eet.

They are essential links for commerce, practical rather than ideological ap- The economics are being helped tourism, freight movement and every- proach to decarbonization. along by public funding, of course. day mobility. That reality makes the The vessel’s ice-class 1B rating adds The total contract value is €49.93 mil- design brief particularly demanding: another layer of complexity. De- lion, supported in part by €28 million zero-emission daily operations, year- signed to operate in ice up to 60 cm from the European Union Modernisa- round reliability, and the ability to per- thick, the ferry will employ azimuth tion Fund.

Illustration by LMG Marin, courtesy Estonican State Fleet

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