World's Largest Plug-In Hybrid Ordered

Color Line has signed a contract with Ulstein for construction of the world’s largest plug-in hybrid vessel. The ship, to be built at Ulstein Verft, will provide services between Sandefjord, Norway, and Strömstad, Sweden, from summer 2019. 

The ship will be a plug-in hybrid, in which the batteries are recharged via a power cable with green electricity from shore facilities or, as a secondary alternative, recharged on board by the ship's generators.

The 160-meter (525-foot) vessel, with the working name Color Hybrid, will be able to carry 2,000 passengers, 100 crew and 500 cars. It will have almost double the capacity of M/S Bohus which is scheduled to be phased out when the new ferry enters operation. 

Steel cutting is expected in July 2017 and delivery in May 2019.

The vessel will be built according to Norwegian flag requirements and registered in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register. Color Line is currently the only company in the international passenger and freight traffic to and from Norway with ships registered in the Norwegian Ship Register and with Norwegian headquarters.

All Norwegian ports on Color Line’s network have shore power facilities.