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THE ELECTRIC HYBRID FERRY ELOISE HAS ARRIVED IN GOTHENBURG

Details: on 10 May 2022

Gothenburg’s fourth passenger ferry from Työvene has arrived in the city – two months early. The new electric hybrid ferry is another step towards the goal of electrifying the public transportation in Gothenburg.

The electric hybrid ferry Eloise attracted a lot of attention when she was given her name in the autumn of 2021 – Gothenburgers submitted almost 4,600 name proposals. The ferry called at the port of Gothenburg on Friday 6 May – two months earlier than promised – when the boat was formally handed over from Työvene to Västtrafik.

Eloise is a commuter ferry for cyclists and pedestrians, with a capacity of 298 people and 80 bicycles. The boat is of the same model as its sibling Elvy, which Työvene delivered to Gothenburg in 2019, but with 25 percent better battery capacity. With the ferry, Västtrafik will be a little bit closer to its goal that the public transportation in Gothenburg will be electrified by 2030.

– We are very proud of the delivery. Both because we have received the confidence from Västtrafik to design and build Eloise, but mainly because we can contribute with this green public transport solution that reduces emissions, and at the same time is of great benefit to Gothenburgers, says Juha Granqvist, CEO of Työvene.

On June 10, Eloise will be named under pomp and circumstance, and will then start operating on line 286 from June 30. Until then, the crew trains with the ferry and prepares it for the start of traffic.

Tyovene Juha Grankvist Stefan Nord

The electric hybrid ferry Eloise was formally handed over to the customer Västtrafik on Friday the 6th of May.
In the picture, Stefan Nord, vehicle manager at Västtrafik, stands together with Työvene's CEO Juha Granqvist in front of Eloise.

Facts about the electric ferries in Gothenburg
The ferries operate on line 286, Älvsnabbare, across the Göta River in Gothenburg. The first two, Älveli and Älvfrida, are diesel-electric and were put into operation in 2015. The third ferry, Elvy, is powered by an electric hybrid engine and put into operation in 2019. In June 2022, the second electric hybrid ferry Eloise will be inaugurated.

• The ferries are double-ended shuttle ferries designed for fast boarding and disembarkation for travelers both with and without a bicycle on short trips across the river.
• The passenger capacity is 298 people and there is room for 80 bicycles.
• At each end there are propeller units that are rotatable 360 degrees and have double counter-rotating propellers.
• Length 32.99 meters.
• Maximum width 8.71 meters
• Speed 11 knot.

About Työvene
Uudenkaupungin Työvene (Uki Workboat) designs and builds high-quality boats and ships that are used for demanding purposes in professional use.

TYÖVENE DELIVERS THE FOURTH OF THE NEW-GENERATION COAST GUARD VESSELS TO THE FINNISH BORDER GUARD

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

On Friday the 12th of November Työvene delivered yet another new generation coast guard boat to the Finnish Border Guard in Uusikaupunki. The delivery was the fourth of the seven RV20 series vessels built by Työvene.
– With these vessels, we have advanced in development for decades to come, praised Rear Admiral Markku Hassinen, Deputy Chief of the Finnish Border Guard, who received the delivery.

The fourth new generation Coast Guard vessel was handed over to the Finnish Border Guard on Friday, 12th of November, in Uusikaupunki. The boat is one of seven vessels in the RV20 series and they are all built at the Työvene shipyard in Uusikaupunki. The first three new-generation Coast Guard vessels are already in use and the fourth vessel will be stationed in Kotka.

The Swiss army knife of boats
According to Markku Hassinen, the new vessels are as versatile in equipment as a Swiss army knife.

– We are still at the stage where we are gaining experience, but our first impressions of the vessels have been encouraging and it can be said that the shipyard has succeeded in enabling the vessels to comprehensively perform various tasks, says Markku Hassinen.

The vessels will be able to make longer patrols than before, which is important as the Border Guard's coastguard stations have been reduced in numbers.

– For example, the distances in the Gulf of Bothnia are long. Our former boat fleet was intended for day patrols, but with such a vessel we can be present exactly where we are needed, Hassinen says and continues:
– I can honestly say that with these vessels we have advanced in development for decades to come.

juha borderguard ceremony
Photo: Rajavartiolaitos

A result of good collaboration
The vessels, with an aluminium hull and a length of 20 meters, will replace the old iron-framed coastal patrol boats. The vessel can be used for both border and maritime safety and rescue missions, as well as for combating environmental damage. Vessels have also been assigned systems and capabilities to perform military national defence missions. The vessel can be used during all seasons and is designed to break up to 20 centimetres if solid ice.

Juha Granqvist, CEO of Työvene, is very pleased with the results that can now be presented, but also points out that the collaboration between Työvene and the Border Guard has been crucial:

– The keys to success have been our experienced hard-working employees, realistic schedules, and excellent collaboration with the customer, Granqvist says and continues:

– We have been working closely with the Border Guard's technical team to develop a new unique vessel concept. This has enabled us to refine our internal processes and the results are already reflected in the improved quality of our products and in keeping budgets and schedules in place.

All photos by: Rajavartiolaitos