The Potential of Electric RoPax Vessels for Short-Sea Ferry Operations

Resumen

This paper studies the potential of electric RoPax vessels on the Helsinki–Tallinn route. This route is a busy short-sea shuttle route, with a crossing of the Gulf of Finland taking approximately 2–2.5 hours, depending on the vessel. One of the shipping companies operating in the region has announced plans for a possible investment in a fully electric vessel, with the objectives of significantly reducing emissions on the route, taking advantage of lower-cost electricity compared to many marine fuels, reducing costs associated with the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and ensuring compliance with FuelEU Maritime requirements. The vessel would be charged in port using shore-side electricity. This paper examines the energy requirements and reported emissions of four vessels currently operating on the route, based on EU MRV data, and estimates the electricity demand of a comparable electric vessel operating on the same service. Although the use of electricity in maritime transport presents several challenges, primarily related to battery technology, fixed short-distance routes of this kind may represent a viable application for fully electric vessels.