As 2026 begins, it is worth looking at two large projects that show where Scandinavian ferry transport is going. Metstech‘s job is to retrofit the vessels from diesel power to hybrid (diesel + electricity) and to build the stations that will supply the necessary electricity.
1) Gullmarsleden: where rock, water, and engineering meet
If you stand at the edge of Gullmaren on a quiet morning, you will see how beautiful the landscape is. Granite Shores. It is cold and deep. Small communities are separated not by distance, but by water that you can’t just cross easily. This is where Gullmarsleden, run by Trafikverket, is more like a moving bridge than a ferry route. And bridges, as everyone knows, must work every single day.
Metstech is responsible for the charging station at Finnsbo, including automatic mooring. This may sound like a small thing, but it makes berthing and unberthing safer, especially in bad weather.
At the same time, the road ferry Tellus is being prepared for shore charging, while Neptunus is being converted — from a diesel-mechanical propulsion system to a hybrid configuration. Metstech is responsible for the electrical and hybrid systems, and Stockholm Repairyard is the main contractor. Soon the crossings at Gullmarsleden will run electrically. Silent.
What does that require? It is not just about batteries and converters, but about shore power, vessel systems, automation logic, safety layers and backups — all working together. This is where Metstech’s role becomes critical.
2) Göta älv: electrifying a city’s daily crossing
Travel south to Gothenburg and the mood changes, becoming more hectic. The Göta älv river does not separate the city; it connects it. Ferries cross it regularly, carrying commuters, bicycles, tourists and public transport that needs to be timed correctly. Here, electrification is a necessity as otherwise you have air pollution and noise.
Västtrafik and Styrsöbolaget are running another large programme. Metstech is responsible for two charging stations in Gothenburg that can each generate 2 megawatts of electricity for the city ferries.
The plan for the vessels is also ambitious. The diesel ferries Älvsnabben 4 and 5 are being converted so they can also use electricity. Earlier diesel-electric vessels Älveli and Älvfrida are also being changed to hybrid configurations. A newbuild from Kewatec, due to be delivered in 2026, will be built fully electric. We are in charge of these conversions and the newbuild.
These two programmes are very different in terms of where they are and how they feel. One is set in the rocky landscape of Bohuslän, while the other is set in a busy city. Even though they are different, they have a similar outlook. You have to design the shore systems and the vessels simultaneously. Automation should support electrification, not fight it. Hybridisation is not just an idea; it is a real solution good for people and the environment.
All will be revealed in 2026!