Electric hydrofoil ferry with autonomous shipping technologies starts tests on the Trondheim Fjord

Frostabåten, Norwegian ferry operator and member of Ocean Autonomy Cluster, will begin test sailings on the Trondheim Fjord using the electric hydrofoil vessel Candela P-12. Tests will be done on 22km route between Frosta and Trondheim, a connection that currently has no boat service.

The purpose is to develop a sustainable transport line on the Trondheim Fjord, and potentially also on its inner sections, that can evolve into an autonomy project, a tourism concept, and a commuter route.

🎤 “On the Trondheim Fjord, this technology makes it possible to operate routes where the passenger base is too small for larger vessels,” says Terje Viken, initiator and CEO of Frostabåten AS.

The autonomous technology to be tested will support the vessel operator in navigation and operations. NTNU and Shore Control Lab play an active role in the project, conducting research on how autonomous functions can support the operator during demanding conditions.

🎤 “We will install a gateway on the vessel that enables the transfer of high-quality video from the vessel to a shore-based control room via the mobile network,” says Ole Andreas Alsos, head of the Shore Control Lab and Professor of Interaction Design at NTNU.

This will allow the project to explore long-term possibilities for remote monitoring and remote operation from shore. NTNU will also map the passenger experience to support the design of future ferry services.

Even with autonomous features, the vessel will not be crewless. It will remain operator-controlled, but the systems will provide decision support and operational efficiency. The test results will serve as an important foundation for further development of autonomous solutions.

The testing will continue until January 2026 and will provide a comprehensive decision-making basis for technology, operations, and potential future routes.

The Frostabåten test project is carried out in close collaboration with Frosta Brygge, Trondheim Port, Ocean Autonomy Cluster, MIDAS, Crazy Coyote, WTW, Login Group, Norsk Droneindustri, Maritime Robotics and FI Ocean Space Incubator, with NTNU and Shore Control Lab as key partners for testing and research on autonomous systems. The Municipality of Trondheim and Trøndelag County Council are important partners contributing funding.

Frostabåten aims to develop a scalable model for autonomous fast ferries that can be deployed in multiple locations, both in Norway and internationally.

📃📷 Source: Ocean Autonomy Cluster