The diminutive ferryboat Fori, which carries passengers across the Aura river that dissects the city, is set to become Finland’s “first all-electric vessel”.
The conversion from smelly diesel hydraulic propulsion to environmentally friendly battery power will be undertaken by workboat builder and engineering specialist Mobimar, also based in Turku. The DC grid-based electric system, designed for high reliability and to minimise energy loss, will be provided by Lappeenranta-based electromobility specialist Visedo. Twin permanent magnet (PM) motors will improve redundancy and enable the craft, when necessary, to make crossings in ice conditions. The batteries will be charged overnight.
The busy Fori, something of a mascot for Turku dwellers, was built originally with steam power and makes 400 trips of two minutes each per day. Disembarking and boarding passengers only takes a minute at either end. The exterior of the vessel will be restored as well, with the wheelhouse replaced.
The work will begin in Mobimar’s drydock in March and fans of the Fori can look forward to it going back into pollution-free service before 1 May — in time for spring and the start of Turku’s tourist season.
Meanwhile, Visedo also is supplying the electrical propulsion system for a European Union-funded e-ferry project in Denmark that will connect the island of Aeroe with Fynshav on the mainland. Mobimar is also involved as the supplier of the automatic charging system. The first vessel is set for launch in November this year but is of altogether larger dimensions than the Fori, with space for 36 cars and 130 passengers.
