Aveiro City Council inaugurated the new 100% Electric ferry at the beginning of February, named Salicórnia. “The transport, developed entirely in Portugal [by the ETE Group at the Navaltagus shipyards, in Seixal] to serve a Portuguese region, is also the first electric ferry in the Iberian Peninsula and Southern Europe. This vessel has zero CO2 emissions, allowing the reduction of the more than 300 tons of CO2 released by the model in operation, also reducing energy consumption by around 30%”, explains the municipality in a statement.
Salicornia was, for the Marnotos, in the care of the Salinas, an invasive weed, which modern cuisine transformed into a gourmet vegetable widely used as a distinctive and savory note, with Salicornia now receiving production care in the Salt Marines”, says the Mayor of Aveiro, Ribau Esteves, considering this to be a “determining factor in choosing the name of the new electric Ferryboat, adding another idea that respects the fact that Salicornia is also “a symbol of balance and environmental sustainability”.
“We wanted a name that would be linked to the territory, that would be a differentiating element of the Ria and the Aveiro Region and that would demonstrate the capacity for adaptation, of reinvention, turning an expendable evil into a relevant good, a testament to sustainability and good management of nature and of his relationship with man. I remind you that, in Aveiro, this is a connection that goes back several hundred years and that environmental sustainability is fundamental so that we can live in the fantastic Aveirense territory forever”, he concluded.
During the first three months of Salicornia’s operation, and due to the need for permanent technical monitoring of the ship in this first phase, the old Ferry Cale de Aveiro will be available to guarantee the maintenance of the service, whenever there is a need to carry out technical operations with the new Electric Ferryboat, on a shipyard basis. This is a normal and duly foreseen procedure for this type of vessel and the innovative technology used.
The ship has the capacity to transport 260 passengers and 19 vehicles, 90% and 30% more respectively than the current ferryboat.
For the ETE Group, this project reinforces its commitment to environmentally sustainable solutions, as well as highlighting its strong skills in Naval Engineering and Construction, positioning it in the market with a greater capacity to respond to similar projects in the future. At the same time, it promotes the Portuguese naval industry, raising it to demanding standards of quality and reliability, in which the Group sees itself.
“The construction of the 1st electric ferryboat in Portugal is a source of great satisfaction for us, the ETE Group, as it allows us to respond to a challenge in the area of mobility, as well as reinforcing what is our transition strategy towards more sustainable and environmentally responsible naval engineering”, stated, during the visit, Francisco Barbosa, director of Navaltagus, an ETE Group company. He further added that “this project is also an example of the ETE Group’s double commitment to the country, as it will have a visible contribution to the promotion of shipyards and their ability to develop solutions at national level, as well as contributing to the development from the Aveiro Region, where the Group has been present for over 30 years.”
To this reinforced transport capacity is added increased comfort for passengers, thanks to low noise levels, and a 360º panoramic view on the top floor, which will allow users to enjoy the unique landscapes of the Ria de Aveiro and São Jacinto.
The new Ferryboat Salicórnia is part of the Aveirobus operation and runs a regular route connecting São Jacinto to Forte da Barra. The project is co-financed by POSEUR, Portugal 2020 and the European Union through the Cohesion Fund (CF). The total investment is 7,326,490.13 euros with support from the Cohesion Fund in the amount of 2,168,321.53 euros.
Charging system
To make the operation of the Electric Ferryboat possible, the Municipal Council of Aveiro awarded, last November, the execution of the charging systems for the operation of the new 100% Electric Ferryboat, for the amount of 1,409,479 euros to the group of companies constituted by Ahlers Lindley, Lda. and ETG – Empresa de Gestão e Transporte S.A..
The loading systems, which will be located on specific platforms installed in an area adjacent to the ship’s docking piers, in São Jacinto and Forte da Barra, can be operated automatically or manually, an extremely important factor in the operability of crossings, in efficiency of the system and the Ferry and compliance with Aveiro’s river transport schedules.
This pioneering project joins other sustainable mobility initiatives carried out by Aveiro City Council – such as the electrification of moliceiros (which will allow a reduction of 400 tons of CO2) and 100% electric buses currently in operation in the municipality, through Transdev/Aveirobus – reinforcing the municipality’s “We are green” commitment.
Photo: Aveiro City Council
