MF Estelle - a small ship making historic waves

From the naming ceremony in Stockholm, photo: Zeabuz.

The world´s first self-driving commercial passenger ferry– entirely powered by electricity – is making history when going into traffic in the capital of Sweden this week.

MF Estelle is designed and built by Brødrene Aa and has already sparked great interest worldwide. 

-  We consider autonomous technology a great leap forward for maritime innovation. Not with the main intention of creating driverless solutions, but by implementing autonomous systems that increases the security for staff and passengers on board, says Tor Øyvin Aa, CEO Brødrene Aa.

Building for the future 

The shipping company Torghatten and the autonomy supplier Zeabuz are behind Zeam and the ferry MF Estelle. The ferry is built in carbon fiber at our shipyard in Hyen.

- The development and production of MF Estelle has been a process of great learning for Brødrene Aa. Cooperations like these keeps us staying one step ahead when it comes to technological innovations. Hopefully it can show prospective partners how the future on seas could look like, Aa explains.

Good feedback

MF Estelle had its name ceremony in Stockholm this month and will start sailing with passengers after a short sailing period.

– The feedback has been great, Aa, who attended the ceremony, says. 

– Stockholm has ambitions to electrify all sea transport by 2030. Brødrene Aa takes great pride in being a part of this process, by contributing our expertise in energy-efficient vessels and electrification. 

At start-up, there will be crew on board, while the ferry is monitored from a control center on land. The 12-metre-long boat, with room for 25 people and bicycles, has an open, covered passenger deck with boarding and disembarking at both ends. MF Estelle will have 15 hours of continuous electric operation every day.

- A new mobility chapter

Torghatten and Zeabuz state to Teknisk Ukeblad that they see the induction of MF Estelle as the start of a new mobility chapter.

- The goal is to create a network of virtual bridges that contribute to urban mobility in an affordable, environmentally friendly and safe way. Around 90 percent of all urban areas are located by waterways. With small, cheap and simple vessels with little or no crew, the waterways can be used to reduce traffic and congestion on the roads, says Erik Dyrkoren, managing director of Zeabuz to tu.no.