Foreship supports world-first dual chemistry battery retrofit for Wasaline Ferry

Naval architecture consultancy Foreship is enabling a maritime industry first by supporting Wasaline’s retrofit of the MV Aurora Botnia with a dual chemistry battery system. The upgrade will increase the vessel’s energy storage capacity from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 23% annually.

Due for commissioning in early 2026, the retrofit combines high-power Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) and energy-dense lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, marking what could be the first such integration in a maritime retrofit. The enhanced system will supply up to 20% of the ferry’s total energy demand, enabling more efficient use of its LNG-fuelled engines and slashing emissions during over 1,000 annual voyages.

Foreship, involved since the vessel’s design, led feasibility studies, supplier evaluations, engineering, and classification support. “To our knowledge, it is the first time this dual-battery approach has been realised in a maritime retrofit… [and] one of the most technically ambitious hybrid conversions yet attempted on a RoPax ferry,” said Joonatan Haukilehto, head of New Technologies at Foreship.

The system will be recharged with renewable shore power, further supporting zero-emission operations in port. Foreship’s emissions modelling also confirmed long-term compliance with EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime targets, offering potential carbon credit benefits.

Battery hybridisation of ferries will have an outsize effect on reducing carbon emissions, because of the comparative efficiency of battery electric propulsion. For every one wind turbine required to power a battery ferry crossing, ten would be needed to power an equivalent voyage fuelled by e-ammonia.

“From the beginning, Aurora Botnia was built to evolve, and Foreship has been with us at every step of that journey,” said Peter Ståhlberg, Wasaline md. “This latest upgrade represents a significant leap toward our 2030 climate goals. By integrating advanced battery solutions and maximising our use of clean shore power, we are proving that sustainable ferry transport is wholly viable.”