The newest delivery MS “Hollendaren” can carry a truck of 50 tonnes

Nov 5

*The vessel carries 73 passengers, has a crane and a deck with room for a truck up to 19 meters or 8 cars. Photo: Brødrene Aa.*

PRESS RELEASE:

The fast ferry delivered to Troms and Finnmark County Municipalities today can carry a 19-meter-long truck of 50 tonnes in addition to passengers!

“Most vessels are car-carrying boats in Finnmark. We needed to increase the total fleet in our area, to be better prepared when avalanches or other cases close our communities. We have roadless communities that need reserve routes at short notice. This new vessel will strengthen our capacity in Finnmark”, says the assistant department manager / section manager, Ole Håkon Tønseth Haraldstad.

The county council wanted a flexible vessel with good capacity for both cargo and passengers. This resulted in a fast ferry that can take 73 passengers, a loading crane to move both cargo and cars, plus a car deck with room for a truck of 19 meters - or 8 cars.

Strong deck in carbon fiber

Designed by Brødrene Aa, the vessel has a car deck able to withstand an axle load of 12 tons. To compare, boats which take only cars can do an axle load of 2 tonnes.

“We are proud to announce that the deck is made of carbon fiber composite. People may think that steel deck is the only material to withstand a heavy truck on board, but it is not,” says Tor Øyvin Aa, CEO of Brødrene Aa.

Carbon fiber composite is a strong and light weight material with a long life. On this vessel, Brødrene Aa have chosen a building principle that is used for bridge construction and through thorough analysis, constructed a deck able to withstand such a high axle load.

“We have also installed ballast tanks at the front and in the back of the vessel, to handle load variations”, Aa explains.

For example, when a truck full of fish or cement drive on board, the front-loading tank must be filled with seawater to compensate for the weight of the truck.

*The deck is made of carbon fiber composite and can withstand an axle load of 12 tonnes. Photo: Ove Kristian Leirgulen.*

MS hollendaren delivered — *On this vessel, Brødrene Aa have chosen a building principle that is used for bridge construction and through thorough analysis, constructed a deck able to withstand such a high axle load.*

Wide range of use

The MS “Hollendaren” is equipped with a large crane for loading and a spacious cargo room. If needed, this crane can be utilized to lift cars on board.

The landing solution is flexible which allows operation on quays with large variations of tides. It is also designed to be capable of taking on board disabled passengers.

The fast ferry can maintain a service speed of 26 knots, and thus has a wide range of use.

The vessel will travel in rough water and is approved to operate at wave heights up to 4 meters, with both heavy loads and passengers on board.

To secure cargo, the deck is equipped with lashing brackets for 10 tonness.

“There are also stricter fire requirements for fast ferries with cars on board, so we’ve installed pop-up nozzles which spray foam for fire extinguishing”, says Aa.

The County Municipality looks forward to strengthening their capacity:

“MS Hollendaren will operate as the main vessel in MåsøyXpressen. The fast ferry will cover the traffic in what previously was a ferry connection, and therefore partly has a great need for vehicle transport - especially in the summer”, says Tønseth Haraldstad.