Visio-Of-The-Fjords

Hybrid electric vessel Vision of the Fjords has won an award recognising its accessibility and environmental achievements. The 400-passenger capacity vessel, owned and operated by The Fjords DA, secured the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (DOGA) Universal Design ‘transport’ award for its commitment to optimal passenger accessibility, experience and environmental sustainability. Rolf Sandvik, CEO of The Fjords, said: “…we ensured that the ‘path’ passengers use to ascend the ship, and really immerse themselves in the sensory delights of the nature here, is as accessible to those in wheelchairs, or of limited mobility, as it is to all. “There’s no stairs, no elevators, no obstructions, just a gently sloping surface leading everyone to unforgettable views.” http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/industry-news/vision-of-the-fjords-wins-doga-accessibility-award

The "Vision of The Fjords" was back on track on the Nærøyfjord on Aug 10 starting from Flåm with 50 guests on board. The operator had been waiting for the approval by the shipping authority since Aug 8. The hybrid ferry was disabled with 41 passengers on board on Aug 7.

On Aug 7, 2016, the "Vision of The Fjords" was hit by a blackout during a voyage in the Nærøyfjord. The power was lost and everything stopped working. The hybrid ferry was moving extremely slow with eight knots, when the accident at 8.30 a.m. The crew managed to restart the ship's diesel engine so that the the ferry with 41 passengers and six crew on board could sail back to Flåm. The "Vision of the Fjords" was sent to the yard Brødrene Aa, which built the ferry, where technicians and subcontractors were going through all the ship's systems to find the fault that triggered the blackout. Recently a number of technical problems meant that the ferry could only start sailing in mid-July.