Carbon fibre Tourist Vessel Awarded Ship of the Year

The carbon fibre hybrid-electric sightseeing vessel, Vision of the Fjords, designedhas been awarded Ship of the Year 2016 by the maritime magazine

The Vision of the Fjords is a premium sightseeing vessel designed from the ground up to enhance passenger`s sightseeing experience and reduce the vessels environmental footprint. The catamaran is 42 meter long, 15 metres wide and built in lightweight carbon fibre composite. The vessel is classed by DNVGL and certified for 400 passengers.

The winner was announced during the SMM exhibition in Hamburg, where both the operator and yard representatives were present at the ceremony.

The voting panel at the awards said that the ship is truly innovative, with efficient diesel propulsion for long distance transfer and electric propulsion for quiet and pollution-free sightseeing in the beautiful UNESCO-listed Norwegian fjords. The design of the vessel itself, a catamaran with a carbon-fibre hull and the modern passenger facilities adds to the overall feeling that this is something completely new.

With a slender hull designed by Paradis Nautica, equipped with a hybrid propulsion system developed by Mancraft, the new build can reach a top speed of 19 knots. The propulsion control and automation system is delivered by Marcontrol, the battery system by ZM/LG, while drives and power management system are delivered by ABB.

The exterior design is inspired by a twisting mountain road and gives the passengers freedom to walk around the ship while enjoying the scenery. Inside, the vessel has passenger accommodations on two decks, featuring large panoramic windows, seating in a variety of configurations and a large refreshment kiosk on the main deck.