Once upon a time, in the far far north of Europe, there was a kingdom with the most ferries of them all…

5% of the national energy demand in Norway comes from ferry operations. Even though new technology and the development of electrifying the fleet are reducing emissions, there are also human factors that impact the energy consumption. This thesis addresses the challenges the industry faces in raising the awareness and focus to work towards energy efficient sailing. By exploring the opportunity to implement eco-feedback strategies in an interface for the ferry bridge, supported by an analysis tool for the office, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development of the industry. 

Through a human-centered design process we have researched how eco-feedback strategies can fit into the context of ferry bridges. Methods used include interviews, field study, and workshops. Further we explored how different eco-feedback strategies implemented in an interface for the bridge on ferries and an analysis tool for the office were perceived by navigators and land-based operational managers, through an iterative design and user test evaluations. 

The findings of the study implicate that several eco-feedback strategies, such as goal-setting and comparisons, may be appropriate for the use of ferries, and effective in promoting awareness, engagement, and learning for navigators.

…And so, our thesis ends this eco-feedback ferry tale showing that with the right tools and knowledge, ships can indeed sail happily ever after on a greener course.