Echandia Marine has secured a contract to supply the battery system for Gotlandsbolaget’s new hybrid high-speed catamaran, which will operate on the route between Visby and Nynäshamn.

The vessel, Gotland Horizon X, will be built by Australian shipbuilder Austal Limited and is due for delivery in mid-2028. It will have a capacity for up to 400 cars and 1,500 passengers.

The installed battery system will have a capacity of 780 kWh and is designed for a 20-year service life. According to Echandia, it has been developed to support efficient hybrid operation through functions such as peak shaving, load levelling, and energy storage and transfer.

Gotland Horizon X will be capable of operating at 29 knots, giving a crossing time of just over three hours between Gotland and mainland Sweden.

Jonas Moberg, Head of Newbuildings, Gotlandsbolaget, remarked: “This project highlights the strength of the Swedish maritime and technology ecosystem, where new technologies can be developed and become competitive in a global market. Gotland Horizon X builds on a long tradition of combining innovation with continuous fleet development. This led us to search for an Energy Storage System that is both safe and fully flexible, while also providing a long-lasting lifecycle. With Echandia’s battery system, we gain flexibility to continuously optimise operations as we learn from real-world use. Our ambition is not only to reduce emissions, but to build vessels that can evolve over time.”

Echandia said its battery systems are designed for demanding marine applications and combine long service life with flexible power output and a high number of charge cycles. The company added that the solution is intended to meet vessel requirements for both performance and sustainability.

Torbjörn Bäck, CEO of Echandia, commented: “We are proud that Gotlandsbolaget has chosen Echandia as a partner in their continued transition toward more sustainable maritime ferry operations. Our battery is well-suited to these hybrid applications, where flexibility in cycling and power outtake is required. Gotlandsbolaget will be able to evolve the operational profile over time as they identify best practices for this specific vessel.”

Echandia is a supplier of maritime battery systems whose products are designed in Scandinavia and based on lithium titanate oxide (LTO) technology.