TOURISTS FLOCK to a remote archipelago in Norway to see its unique wildlife – walrus, puffins, seals and a variety of whales. Now, Volvo Penta is running a pilot project with Svalbard’s oldest tourist operator, Hurtigruten Svalbard, to test a state-of-the-art hybrid Marell M15 vessel called Kvitbjørn (’Polar Bear’) that will change how tourists experience this natural wonder, delivering near-silent operation.

Powered by a Volvo Penta twin D4-320 DPI Aquamatic hybrid solution, the boat has a top speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of 25 knots. This vessel, designed and built by Marell Boats Sweden AB, will be robust enough to operate safely in the demanding Arctic environment with a range of 500 NM.

This will be Hurtigruten Svalbard’s first hybrid day tour vessel powered by Volvo Penta and the companies are also trialing a new business model, based on ‘power-by-the-hour’ payment. Hurtigruten Svalbard will trial paying by the kilowatt-hour for its operation, with the boat set to run for more than 1,000 hours during the tourist season (1 May  – 31 October). The concept could revolutionize how customers buy marine e-mobility solutions, particularly as upfront costs are often a barrier.

The new hybrid day-cruiser with Volvo Penta power system allows for fully electric operation in the environmentally sensitive waters of Svalbard.

All the interfaces between the hybrid drive and supporting systems were developed through close collaboration between Marell Boats and Volvo Penta. These include the charging, ventilation, heating, and air-conditioning systems. The complete power drivetrain solution for the vessel is based on the Volvo Penta D4/D6 Aquamatic DPI package.

The Volvo Penta DPI package features a hydraulic clutch for silent and smooth shifting at low engine speeds, as well as added maneuverability – perfect for slow cruising when wildlife watching. With steer-by-wire technology, the joystick functionality is also precise.

This hybrid solution delivers range and speed from the diesel engine combined with silent operation from the electrical motor.