New ferry Sam to be constructed for Kalsoy with funding from Danish government

Next year, plans are set to commence the construction of a new ferry for Kalsoy, named Sam.

The budget allocates 20 million Danish kroner for the vessel, and it is expected that the construction will take two to three years, according to Dennis Holm, the Minister of Transport.

The new ferry will measure approximately 43 meters in length and 12.5 meters in width, with a sailing range of 11 nautical miles, making it slightly larger than the current Sam.

This new Kalsoy ferry marks the first step in the government’s initiative to renew the fleet of Strandferðslan, the local ferry service.

Last year and this year, funding was designated for planning the new vessels—one medium-sized and one smaller. MEST won the tender to design both ships. They have now completed the design of the medium-sized vessel in collaboration with Strandfaraskip Landsins and related groups.

It is now ready to draft the operational laws and issue tenders for the construction of the Kalsoy ferry.

Both the medium-sized and smaller vessels will be powered by batteries.