Batteries were installed on board Tõll during the reconstruction works, which cost almost EUR 1.6 million, by TS Laevad, a subsidiary of Port of Tallinn.

The ship's batteries will make partial electricity travel from now on, which will reduce the amount of diesel used and mitigate air pollution.

In general, it is estimated that the batteries would reduce the vessel's diesel consumption by 20 percent, thus reducing CO2 emissions by 1,600 tons per year. It also decreases underwater noise and vibration levels in addition to pollution.

Passengers on the Virtsu-Kuivastu ferry line between Muhu and mainland Estonia will be served by the Tõll ferry from TS Laevad beginning 2 September.

“For several years now, we have been working to completely eliminate the use of fossil fuel on ferries in the Väinameri Sea area and achieve the zero-emission goal. The conversion of Tõll into Estonia’s first hybrid RoPax vessel is an important step towards this direction,” Jaak Kaabel, chairman of the management board of TS Laevad noted.

TS Laevad was Estonia's first company to use a diesel-electric hybrid system on a ferry that operates with regular daily departures and maneuvers, even in the winter months – at temperatures below zero.

Previously, the battery technology was not used anywhere in the world on such a massive passenger ferry that served in winter under such ice conditions.

Maritime Business World