Estelle (unmanned ferry)

2024: Start of commercial operation. The ferry is operated from a distance of 600 km

In early October 2024 Stockholm , it became possible to remotely control the ferry from a distance of 600 km. This world's first autonomous electric ferry has been put into commercial service and is designed to carry passengers between the islands of the archipelago.

The ferry was built by the Norwegian company Brødrene Aa for the shipping company Torghatten AS and named MF Estelle. It is a 12 m long electric catamaran capable of carrying up to 25 passengers, which is equipped with four engines and a 188 kVt·ch battery for daily operation for 15 hours at an operational speed of 6 knots (7 mph).

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Thanks to Zeabuz technology developed by a team of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, this vessel is able to operate autonomously. Previously, there was a deck officer on board who provided comfort and safety for passengers and could take control if necessary. However, according to the company's engineer, the latest tests showed that the captain could be in a remote operating center on land, controlling the ship remotely.

The Remote Operations Centre in Trondheim is an exact replica of the ferry control system and operator interface with additional screens that broadcast images from cameras to assess the condition around the vessel and on it. In addition to the Norwegian crew, key operators were also involved in the tests, ready to intervene if necessary, however the journey was successful and passengers noted the convenience and smoothness of the vessel's movement.

We wanted to check if the ferry could cross the Riddarfjarden Strait to Söder-Melarstrand on its own, under remote control from a distance of 600km. Our tests, the first of their kind, showed that this is quite possible.[1]

2023: Ferry Presentation

In early June 2023, the Norwegian company Torghatten introduced the autonomous passenger ferry Estelle, which does not need a captain. The cost of the vessel is $1.6 million, the initiative to organize the crossing was the result of private and public cooperation and was partially funded by the EU.

In Sweden, the world's first unmanned electric ferry Estelle began operating between the islands of Stockholm in mid-2023. The high-tech vessel will move between the quay at Kungsholmen and Södermalm, every 15 minutes Estelle can carry up to 30 passengers and is 10 m long, and a one-way ticket costs €3. The test launch took place on June 8, 2023, a full start for everyone on June 12.

Estelle (unmanned ferry)

Operates the AI ferry. Software algorithms read the data that the sensors collect: gyroscopes, cameras, accelerometers, GPS and Wi-Fi modules, as well as 5G and IoT sensors. All information is transmitted to the cloud, so a powerful 5G antenna is installed on the Estelle ferry, which provides a reliable connection with high bandwidth. The marine facility has an electric motor with a capacity of 200 kVt⋅ch. On the roof of the ferry, Torghatten placed solar panels capable of charging the vessel's batteries by 50%.

For June 14, 2023, the excursions are accompanied by the captain, but his task is mainly to monitor the behavior of the vessel, something like a human autopilot. Due to the fact that the Swedish government for June 2023 requires the presence of a captain on any ship. Torghatten plans to negotiate with the authorities and switch to remote control from the shore in 2024, in normal times AI will be managed. But Martin Blom, a ship inspector with the Swedish Transport Agency, notes that it is likely to be necessary to amend the Maritime Law before autonomous passenger traffic is allowed in Sweden.^[2]

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