Stockholm became the world’s first city to deploy a self-driving electric ferry to travel between islands in the Swedish capital. The ferry, called MF Estelle, is 12 meters long and can carry up to 25 passengers. It is powered by batteries and has a range of up to 15 hours. MF Estelle is part of Stockholm’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
How does Sweden’s self-driving electric ferry work?
A captain oversees the autonomous ferry but doesn’t need to touch the controls, and starting from Monday, the MF Estelle – named after Sweden’s Princess Estelle – will start operating short routes between Kungsholmen and Södermalm in Stockholm. The CEO of Torghatten, the maker of the MF Estelle autonomous electric ferry, based in Brnnysund, Norway, stated that the goal is to eventually make the vessel “fully autonomous,” with no need for an onboard supervisor. According to CEO Stein Andre Herigstad-Olsen, the system “sees like a captain” immediately.
Starting next week, the MF Estelle will run short voyages between Stockholm’s islands. The boat is outfitted with radar, cameras, lidar laser, and ultrasonic equipment for data to steer its course, the Norwegian company’s operative chief Erik Nilsson said.
“If a boat changes direction or if there’s a canoe we see it right away in less than a second. We update the course accordingly,” he added.
The cost and fare of Torghatten’s MF Estelle
The first ten-meter boat will cost roughly $1.6 million and can carry up to 30 passengers. A single ticket will cost approximately $3. It is believed that the ferry will encourage Swedes to walk or cycle to work instead of driving. The company intends to increase the number of shuttles in Stockholm and beyond. The ferry project was a private-public partnership that was partially funded by the EU.