S/S Restauration was one of the world’s first vessels of its type to feature hybrid electric propulsion
Launched in 2010, S/S Restauration was one of the world’s first hybrid electric vessels of its kind. In 2025, it will be upgraded to a state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid electric sailing ship, combining multiple energy sources for a more environmentally friendly and quieter operation.
Since the batteries’ capacity was no longer sufficient, and there was not enough space for the large number of batteries after the modifications, they were replaced with new batteries that take up significantly less space. At the same time, the propellers were replaced with larger ones, providing much better thrust and maneuverability. The two electric motors, which lacked sufficient power, were also replaced.
In 2025, Restauration will be upgraded to a cutting-edge plug-in hybrid electric sailing vessel
With the plug-in battery hybrid solution, we are investing in the future.
The ship can now operate with either battery-electric or diesel-electric propulsion. The batteries can be charged via shore power, a backup generator, or by the engines generating (charging) power while sailing.
In other words, we use multiple energy sources for propulsion. This provides us with a reliable and flexible solution while also saving the environment and preventing local pollution in sensitive areas.
- Electric Mode – Propulsion is powered solely by the electric motor, drawing energy from the batteries while the backup generator is turned off. It creates the illusion of sailing…
- Hybrid Mode – Both the backup generator and electric motors provide propulsion power, with electric power drawn from both the batteries and the generator.
- Sailing Mode – Propulsion is provided by the sails, with the propellers charging the batteries and providing us with stored energy for onboard consumption.
Electric Propulsion When the Ship Was New – and the Modernization in 2025
The vessel previously operated with diesel-electric propulsion, where a diesel generator powered two electric motors connected to shafts and propellers.
Equipped with a 7-ton battery pack for electric propulsion, Restauration was one of the first sailing vessels in the world to feature this solution.
It was also the first vessel in Norway with electric propulsion to receive a passenger certificate.
The Background of the Original Electric System:
The Background of the Original Electric System:
Arne Nordbø, who played a key role in the ship’s construction, wanted to replace engine noise with the sound of waves and began researching electric propulsion.
The board supported the idea, both for its environmental benefits and because they applied for and received funding from Transnova (now Enova) to develop Restauration’s propulsion system.
The construction of Restauration took several years, and in the meantime, Nordbø gained extensive knowledge about electric propulsion through networking and email exchanges with experts worldwide, up until the ship was launched in 2010.
(Click on the image for a larger view)
Restauration as a Pioneering Vessel and Inspiration:
The machinery in Restauration received so much attention that a whale safari company in Iceland invited Arne Nordbø to serve as a consultant for Iceland’s first electrically powered vessel.
His deep commitment also inspired the development of electric propulsion for larger ferries in Norway.
Modernization in 2025:
This system is now being upgraded with state-of-the-art Oceanvolt AXC36 electric motors, larger propeller diameters for increased efficiency, and a new battery bank.
This modernization allows Restauration to motor-sail silently on battery power alone, with the backup generator available if needed.
This quiet operation is especially valuable when navigating fjords or entering and exiting harbors, offering a calmer and more environmentally friendly experience. It’s a harmonious integration of modern technology into a historic vessel.
With this solution, we honor the legacy while demonstrating how tradition can embrace sustainability to inspire future generations.
Basis for the Chosen Upgrade
The foundation for this upgrade is based on towing measurements of Restauration, theoretical calculations using a method called Holtrop, 3D model drawings, and hydrodynamic calculations for stability. All of this has been done to provide us with knowledge about movements, forces, and resistance.
A collaboration between boat builders and traditional craftsmanship, combined with modern technology, has given us a sustainable, modern solution. The person responsible for the propulsion upgrade has been Per Stian Larsen, with Odd Kenneth Tollefsen serving as the Technical Project Manager.
We set full sails into the future
With S/S Restauration. Vessel Data:
We set full sails into the future
With S/S Restauration. Vessel data:
- Vessel Type: Sloop
- Overall Length: 22 m
- Length at Waterline: 16 m
- Max Beam: 5.3 m
- Displacement: 40 tons
- Draft: 1.8 m
- Electric Motors: 2 x AXC36 Oceanvolt electric motors
- Electric Motor System Voltage: 48 V – 93.6 kWh LiFePO4 battery bank
- Call Sign: 3YPN / MMSI
- Sail Area: 250 m² Main Sail – Jib – … – …. – Fore topmast staysail – Outer jib – Flying jib
The History of Restauration
Restauration was originally an open clinker-built Hardanger jacht that was purchased by merchant and shipowner Theofilius Bowits in Egersund in 1802. At that time, it was named Emanuel and operated as a cargo ship along the coast and in the Baltic Sea. Bowits’ son, Torger Reiersen Bowitz, took over the jacht in 1806 and sailed her until the end of 1816. The ship was damaged in a storm while entering the southern strait of Egersund and was put ashore. From 1817 to 1820, the vessel was on the repair slip in Egersund, where it was rebuilt, receiving four new planks and a sloop stern.
A systematic review of Egersund’s customs books and ship registers from 1801 to 1825 confirms that the jacht “Emanuel” was transformed into the sloop “Restauration” in 1820. The newly renovated ship was put back into service with a new cargo capacity. In 1825, when Torger Reiersen Bowitz was facing bankruptcy, it was sold to Stavanger. The ship registers list Johs. Stene as the shipowner and L. O. Helland as the captain.
During the Tall Ship Race in Stavanger in 2004, Ryfylke Trebåtbyggjeri in Finnøy was asked if they could build a replica of the emigrant ship Restauration. This sparked an interest on Finnøy, and great care was taken to build an authentic replica. A professional advisory board with expertise was established, and the project was underway. Mostly, locally sourced pine from Stokka-dalen in Vats was used, cut at the local sawmill at Ryfylke Trebåtbyggeri. The keel for the new “Restauration” was laid in November 2007, and she was launched from Finnøy in April 2010.
There is ample documentation on how jachts and sloops looked in the early 1800s, including line drawings of hulls and rigging designs. Numerous depictions of jachts and sloops from this era exist, and traditional boatbuilding practices have been carefully preserved. The result was unique, and in 2025, Restauration stands as a floating monument and icon. Now one of Stavanger’s proudest symbols, it represents Norwegian emigration, freedom of expression, and the spirit of the emigrant journey.