Torghatten is rebranding the ferry companies within the group, and all three will now operate under the same name: Torghatten. As part of this, Bastø Fosen will also change its legal name to Torghatten Sør in January.

The CEO of Bastø Fosen, Øyvind Lund, emphasizes that this rebranding clarifies that they are a part of Norway's largest ferry company, and that they now can work more effectively on profiling and branding. 

The Torghatten Group consists of the ferry companies Bastø Fosen, Torghatten Midt, and Torghatten Nord. Torghatten operates around 90 vessels and employs 1,200 people, managing 50 ferry and express boat routes in Norway. Each year, we transport 12 million passengers and 6 million cars. This year, we won our first major ferry contracts in Sweden and was named the most innovative passenger transport company in Norway.

Starting January 6th, information about Bastø Fosen, such as route details and traffic notifications, will be available at Torghatten.no.

Lund emphasizes that the company will implement the rebranding as environmentally friendly and efficiently as possible, without affecting the operations of the ferries. The ferries will therefore be rebranded during scheduled maintenance periods.

Bastø Fosen Becomes Torghatten 

Kjetil Håbjørg becomes the new CEO of Torghatten, bringing with him extensive leadership experience from the aviation industry.

Torghatten has appointed Kjetil Håbjørg as its new Group CEO. Håbjørg joins from his position as CEO of SAS Norway and has over 20 years of experience in leadership, strategy, and operational management within aviation.

“We are very pleased to have Kjetil on board. He has a unique combination of strategic insight and operational execution ability and will be a strong driving force in the continued development of the group,” says Carsten Jensen, CEO of parent company Nordic Ferry Infrastructure.

Håbjørg has held several top executive roles at SAS, including Group Director of Airline Services and Head of Global Ground Services. He has led operations with several thousand employees, including complex restructuring processes and safety-critical operations in over 40 countries.

“Torghatten plays an important role in ensuring mobility and sustainable transport solutions across Norway. I come from a small community myself and deeply relate to Torghatten’s mission of securing good living conditions for people and businesses in coastal communities,” says Håbjørg.

“Torghatten also has a fantastic legacy. They have been innovative for nearly 150 years and still have big ambitions — both in terms of emission reduction and technological leadership. I now look forward to getting to know the organization and contributing to strengthening the group’s position in the years ahead.”

Håbjørg holds a Master of Science in Economics and an MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), with further education from IMD and the University of St. Gallen. In addition to his civilian career, he has a background as an NCO in the Norwegian Armed Forces.

“Kjetil has a leadership profile that combines clarity, inclusiveness, and execution power. We are confident he will be a unifying and forward-leaning leader for the group,” says Carsten Jensen at NFI.

Håbjørg will assume his role on August 15. Stein Andre Herigstad-Olsen will continue as interim CEO until the handover. 

Håbjørg moves from SAS to Torghatten

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New System for Traffic Notifications 

Torghatten wins its first major contract in Sweden: Will operate ferry routes in the Gothenburg archipelago.

Today, Västtrafik announced that Torghatten has won the ferry tender for the Södra Skärgården. The contract includes operating four routes that connect Stenpiren, Saltholmen, and the islands in the Gothenburg archipelago, serving residents, commuters, and schoolchildren. The contract begins in 2027 and has a duration of 15 years.

Carsten Jensen, CEO of Nordic Ferry Infrastructure, which owns Torghatten, refers to this as a significant milestone for Torghatten and Nordic Ferry Infrastructure, as Torghatten establishes itself firmly in Sweden. 

Torghatten is currently operating an autonomous ferry in Riddarfjärden in Stockholm and earlier this year won the tender for the Strömstad-Koster route.

Environmentally friendly fleet and green solutions


Torghatten will operate eight vessels under the contract, building five fully electric vessels, including three speedboats. The remaining vessels will be retrofitted to run on biodiesel. The overall hybridization degree for the contract is 90%.

Jensen emphasizes a green renewal strategy for the fleet, and the importance of reducing the carbon footprint. He further highlights that winning this contract is an important step in that direction. 

The four ferry routes will have year-round operation, with expanded service during the summer months when traffic is at its peak. The routes are essential for residents' daily commutes, with approximately 2.2 million trips made on these routes annually. Saltholmen serves as a key hub for further connections to other public transport options such as buses and trains.

Following the contract, Torghatten's Swedish subsidiary, Torghatten AB, will be significantly expanded, with an administrative office established in Gothenburg. During the peak summer season, around 70 crew members will be required to operate the routes.

We note that the contract award has an appeal period of 11 days.

Torghatten Makes Headway in Sweden

Launching the World's First Commercial, Emission-Free, Autonomous Passenger Ferry in the Heart of the City. 



MF Estelle will be inaugurated and christened at Norr Mälarstrand in Stockholm on June 8, where the ferry line will start operating regularly.

The ferry company Torghatten and the Norwegian technology company Zeabuz are behind the pioneering mobility concept in Stockholm.

Stein Andre Herigstad-Olsen, CEO of Torghatten AS, expresses his excitement, stating, "Estelle is a sustainable and green pioneer, offering a solution to traffic congestion and inspiring alternative modes of transportation. With its electric, self-driving capabilities and advanced digital security, Estelle sets the stage for future advancements in the industry. We are incredibly proud to be part of this historic moment, launching the world's first commercial, emission-free, electric, autonomous passenger ferry right in the heart of a Scandinavian metropolis."

This remarkable venture aims to create a network of virtual bridges, utilizing waterways to alleviate road congestion and promote affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe urban mobility.

Torghatten, supported by Zeabuz's cutting-edge technology, envisions a future where autonomous ferries, operating under the brand name Zeam (Zero Emission Autonomous Mobility), seamlessly connect neighborhoods and cities worldwide. Zeabuz's contribution includes the development of advanced autonomous technology, ensuring that the ferry operates efficiently and securely.

Erik Dyrkoren, CEO of Zeabuz, shares his vision for the future: "We aim to radically change the way we think about mobility by creating shortcuts in cities, utilizing urban waterways as virtual bridges, enabled by the Zeabuz autonomy solutions. Our collaboration with Torghatten seeks to connect communities affordably and sustainably, not only in Stockholm but in the large number of cities with navigable waters worldwide. The launch of this service marks a significant step towards realizing this vision."

Scalable and adaptable for lean and safe operations

Zeabuz is on a mission to make waterborne mobility sustainable, safe, and profitable. The company provides a suite of adaptable autonomy solutions that offer optimized vessel operations and innovative human-machine cooperation. All Zeabuz’s products are built on flexible and modular system architecture, enabling adaptation to specific segments, vessel types, and operations. Zeabuz was founded in 2019 as a spin-off of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's progressive research centre for autonomous marine operations and systems.

Zeabuz also recently teamed up with Singaporean Yinson Green Tech, planning to boost the safety and efficiency of their new fleet of electric harbour crafts.

“Safety always comes first, and with the full range of autonomy levels, we are confident this will be of great value to maritime operators. The ambition is a leaner operation with smarter technology. In Stockholm, we will prove that this technology is mature and ready”, Smogeli says.

Equipped with state-of-the-art autonomous technology, MF Estelle will initially have an operator on board. However, the ultimate goal is for the ferry to become fully self-driving, monitored from the shore.

MF Estelle's regular operations are scheduled to commence on Monday, June 12. Initially, the ferry will operate four departures per hour, gradually increasing to eight departures every hour for 15 hours a day. This phased approach optimizes energy consumption and travel patterns.

Torghatten and Zeabuz Make History in Stockholm

 began regular operations on the Bognes–Lødingen route – the most heavily trafficked ferry connection in Northern Norway.

The brand-new, fully electric ferry not only marks a new era for passengers and local communities, but also represents a major step forward in Torghatten’s green fleet renewal.

 is built to operate for many years to come and is an excellent vessel for both passengers and crew,” says Torghatten interrim CEO Stein Andre Herigstad-Olsen.

The Bognes–Lødingen route is now home to the world’s most powerful charging facility for electric ferries. With a charging capacity of 9.2 megawatts, a new global benchmark has been set for electric ferry operations.

“As far as we know, this is a world record in charging capacity for ferries,” says Herigstad-Olsen.

This exceptional power output makes it possible to operate a fully electric, enclosed ferry on a weather-exposed route with a crossing time of one hour and speeds up to 14 knots – completely emission-free.

 has a capacity of 120 passenger car units (PCU) and a gross tonnage of nearly 7,200 tons. The vessel is universally designed and offers greater space and higher comfort for passengers compared to older ferries.

The ferry is certified for navigation in navigation area C and has been specially adapted for the demanding conditions along this route.

 truly unique is that we combine fully electric propulsion with long crossings, high speed, and a weather-exposed route – and we do it with an enclosed ferry. Typically, you would see open ferries and shorter crossings,” explains Herigstad-Olsen.

The project has been a significant undertaking for Torghatten, and the CEO praises the team that followed up the construction process:

“The project team has done an outstanding job and helped ensure the level of quality we demand. This is an important step for the environment – and a milestone in the electrification of coastal transport in Norway.”

Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the project – and we wish all passengers a great journey aboard MF 

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