PALFINGER MARINE supplies lifesaving equipment to the world’s largest hybrid ferry

PALFINGER MARINE is proud to be chosen as the supplier of lifesaving equipment to the world’s largest hybrid ferry. PALFINGER MARINE will equip MS Color Hybrid with lifeboats, fast rescue boats and accompanying davits.

This summer, the cutting of the very first steel for Color Line’s new plug-in hybrid ferry, MS Color Hybrid, marked the start of an exciting shipbuilding project. The new environmentally friendly vessel, capable of carrying up to 2,000 passengers and approximately 500 vehicles, will become the world’s largest hybrid ferry when it is put in to service between Sandefjord, Norway and Strömstad, Sweden during the summer of 2019.

A big win supplying lifesaving equipment to the world’s largest hybrid ferry

With PALFINGER MARINE’s newly awarded contract to deliver the vessel’s lifeboats, fast rescue boats and davits, PALFINGER MARINE is proud to have become part of this innovative project. The scope of delivery consists of four lifeboats with accompanying davits, two fast rescue boats with accompanying davits, as well as the commissioning of systems. Each lifeboat has a 150-person capacity. The complete package will be delivered in November 2018.

“This is an exciting project for us to be part of, and shows our ability to combine top safety and excellent technical solutions with competitive pricing,” says PALFINGER MARINE’s Area Sales Manager (Norway), Robin Holmedal Pedersen.

The MPC 32 lifeboats are proven technology. To accommodate Color Line’s request to keep the decks as clear as possible, allowing passengers more deck space to take promenades and enjoy their time onboard, the lifeboats will be installed in a davit structure which frees up space below the lifesaving systems. The two FRSQ 630 fast rescue boats is the newest generation. Safe, quick and agile, they offer optimal working conditions in rough sea conditions. This new vessel type is our first product combining the lifesaving systems expertise of the company formerly known as Harding and the vessel expertise of PALFINGER MARINE’s professional boats division.

“In today’s market, with fewer contracts awarded and tough competition for every opportunity, this order is a big win for us. The contract truly demonstrates PALFINGER MARINE’s ability to combine the highest safety standards and excellent technical solutions with competitive pricing,” Robin states.

Returning customers

He also believes the long-lasting relationships with both the Ulstein shipyard and Color Line to be contributing factors in securing the deal. Over the years, PALFINGER MARINE has delivered lifesaving systems to many of their newbuilds, and currently the company has an ongoing service agreement with Color Line.

“We are proud that both the Ulstein shipyard and Color Line have yet again entrusted us with the responsibility of delivering lifesaving equipment. Both companies know that we represent high quality and excellent service throughout the entire product lifecycle. By choosing PALFINGER MARINE, they will also receive a complete package from one single supplier of deck equipment, a quality sought by many customers in today’s market,” Holmedal Pedersen says.

PALFINGER MARINE has long history as a leading supplier to Norway’s shipping, and oil and gas industries.

PALFINGER MARINE’s scope of supply:

• 4 x MPC32 lifeboats
• 4 x VIP 24 FDES davits
• 2 x FRSQ 630 fast rescue boats
• 2 x NPDS 3500H FR fast rescue boat davits

Facts: MS Color Hybrid

• Vessel type: Plug-in hybrid, able to operate with fully electric propulsion during parts of the ferry crossing. Batteries are recharged with electricity via a power cable from shore facilities, or from the ship's generators during a voyage.

• Built at Ulstein Verft AS
• Passenger capacity: 2,000
• Crew capacity: 100
• Vehicle capacity (cars): 500
• Outer dimensions: Length 160 m, beam 27.1 m, design draught 6.0 m
• In operation from May 2019
• Won the Next Generation Ship Award at the Nor-Shipping 2017 exhibition

Picture Copyright: Ulstein Group ASA