India’s Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has signed contracts to build two autonomous electric ferries for Norwegian shipping operator Asko Maritime AS. The ships form part of a project funded by the Norwegian Government aimed at emission free transport of goods across the Oslo fjord.

The vessels have been designed by Naval Dynamics Norway using Kongsberg Maritime systems. Detailed engineering will be carried out by CSL. They will be built under DNV GL Classification and flagged in Norway.

Both vessels will be managed by Massterly AS, an autonomous shipping operator established as a joint venture by Norwegian digital maritime positioning specialist Kongsberg and Norwegian firm Wilhelmsen Maritime Services.

The 67 metre long vessels will be delivered as fully electric transport ferries, powered by 1846 kWh capacity battery. After commissioning of autonomous equipment and field trials in Norway, the ferries will operate fully autonomously, able to transport 16 fully loaded Standard EU trailers.