Norröna connects to shore power in Seydisfjordur

Norröna has connected to shore power for the first time at Seydisfjordur in Iceland, saving an estimated seven to eight tonnes of oil per week, KVF reported.

The connection was made last Thursday and has also reduced the ferry’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Múlaþing municipality, where Seydisfjordur is located, and the electricity company supplying power to the town provided the shore power. Faroese company El-Talvuvirkið in Gøta, known as Etv, installed the technical equipment aboard Norröna in cooperation with an Icelandic company responsible for the port-side system.

“This is the first time ships have received shore power in Seydisfjordur,” Etv managing director Eyðun Hansen said.

Shore power in Tórshavn could take a year

Norröna is now equipped to connect to shore power when it docks elsewhere. In Tórshavn, however, more work is needed before that can happen.

SEV must install a power line to the quay. After Smyril Line moves into a new building at the harbour later this autumn, the current building is scheduled to be demolished. A transformer station will then be built at the location and will also be used for shore power.

“It will take at least a year before Norröna can use shore power in Tórshavn,” said Heðin Mortensen, chairman of Tórshavn’s harbour committee.

Setting up shore power for Norröna and other ships of a similar size is expected to cost Tórshavn Harbour between 10 million and 15 million kroner.

Providing shore power for large cruise ships would cost considerably more. The largest ships use roughly as much electricity as one third of the Faroe Islands, Mortensen said, putting the cost at 100 million kroner or more.

Shore power planned at western quay

While shore power is still pending at the eastern quay, ships docking at the western quay are expected to receive it soon. Etv is building three electrical panels for the project.

The system is expected to be operational in about two months, Mortensen said.