Eco-Island ferry

Danish-Swedish project in collaboration with MARKIS
Light weight ferry in CFRP composite

In late 2010/early 2011 a group of small Danish and Swedish companies set up a project to demonstrate:


Project targets

To demonstrate that by reducing the weight of smaller vessel hull structure, significantly reduction in fuel consumption and environmental impact can be achieved (by comparing an existing steel ferry with an alternative design of a ferry in carbon fibre sandwich composite with the same payload and speed)


Result

To document that by calculating the accumulated cost of the vessel in its entire service life, there will be an economical benefit from selecting the more expensive composite material (by performing a complete life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for the two ferries)


Result

To document that by calculating the accumulated environmental impact of the vessel in its entire service life – including disposal/decommissioning of the vessels, there will be a similar reduction compared to the traditional steel vessel (by performing a complete life cycle analysis (LCA) for the two ferries)


Result

To perform a required and relatively new approval procedure for vessels built from other materials than steel, and obtain a formal approval from the maritime authorities (by performing a full-scale fire risk analysis based on approval of the carbon fibre composite ferry)

Result (pdf)


To inspire ship owners, ship yards and designers to consider this alternative material when fuel consumption and environmental impact have high priority (by publishing all project documentation and findings as widely as possible).