Page 28 - NORWAY EXPORTS Maritime 2017-18

construction of fast ferries made of carbon fibre composites

BRØDRENE Aa
6829 Hyen, Norway
Tel: +47 578 68 700
Email: braa@braa.no
Website: www.braa.no

Brødrene Aa is a world leader in the construction of fast ferries made of carbon fi bre composites. The
shipyard is located in Hyen on the west coast of Norway and employs 170 skilled workers. It is known for
pioneering the use of composite materials for fast ferry applications, fi rst with fi breglass composites in the
1970s and today with carbon fi bre composites. The yard’s boatbuilding traditions go back to 1947, and it
has delivered a large range of vessels both for the domestic and international markets.

The shipyard Brødrene Aa has pioneered supplied carbon fi bre vessels to all of the big to win public tenders to operate routes. That
the development of fast ferries made of shipowning groups in Norway, and the fi rst is one of the main reasons why our carbon
lightweight carbon fi bre composites. In 2001 vessels have been operating smoothly for 15 fi bre vessels have been so popular in the
the shipyard in Hyen built the world’s fi rst years,” says Tor Øyvin Aa, Managing Director Norwegian market,” says Aa.
carbon fi bre passenger boat. at Brødrene Aa.
International interest
Since then, carbon fi bre vessels have Lower fuel consumption In recent years, there has also been growing
gradually gained acceptance in the market, The advantage of using carbon fi ber is that international interest for carbon fi bre vessels.
to the extent that Brødrene Aa has now you reduce the structural weight of the Previously the shipyard delivered passenger
supplied 56 of these boats to Norwegian vessel by forty percent in comparison with catamarans to Sweden and Croatia, and recently
and overseas customers. conventional aluminum structures. This two vessels have been delivered to China.
enables a positive lightweight cycle, where
“When we launched the concept of reduced structural weight leads to reduced “We are experiencing increasing interest from
lightweight, fuel-effi cient vessels made of power requirements which allow lighter overseas customers. Norway has traditionally
carbon fi bre, there was a certain amount of engines and smaller fuel tanks to be installed. been a pioneer in fast ferries, and the fact that
scepticism in the market. Shipowners weren’t In total this gives very fuel effi cient vessels. our carbon fi bre vessels have been accepted
convinced by our promises of lower fuel here gets noticed in international circles. We
consumption, and questioned the strength “In the Norwegian fast ferry market, fuel notice a general increase in new builds in the
of the material. Today, more than ten years costs and greenhouse gas emissions are key ferry industry and we are confi dent that there
later, there is no longer any doubt about considerations. Ferry operators need effi cient is a long-term future in the market,” says the
the properties of the material. We have and environmentally friendly vessels in order company’s managing director.

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