Scandlines orders emission-free ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route

Scandlines has signed a contract with the Turkish shipyard Cemre for the construction of an emission-free freight ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route between Germany and Denmark. The ferry is set to enter service in 2024 and will usher in the next generation of ships on this route. The vessel will have a capacity of 66 freight units, increasing the current capacity by 23 percent.

(Hamburg) With a crossing time of one hour, the ferry is emission-free. It can also operate in hybrid mode, just like the current Scandlines routes between Germany and Denmark. In hybrid mode, the crossing time is 45 minutes. This way, the ferry can also serve as a replacement ferry when one of the four double-ended ferries currently operating on the Puttgarden-Rødby route is in the shipyard.

Just like the ferries on the Rostock-Gedser route, trucks can be transported on both the upper and lower decks. This means that ferry berth 1 in Puttgarden and ferry berth 3 in Rødby will need to be modified to allow the upper vehicle deck to be loaded with trucks. At the same time, a new area for trucks will be created at the Puttgarden terminal. Scandlines is replacing the two oldest ships in the fleet, the “Holger Danske” and the “Kronprins Frederik.”

“With the larger capacity, we are able to meet the increasing demand from freight customers. In 2021 alone, the number of freight units increased by twelve percent,” said Carsten Nørland, CEO of Scandlines.

Big step on the green journey

With an emission-free ferry, Scandlines is making a significant step on its green journey. The ferry will initially be charged exclusively in Rødby, Denmark. As early as 2019, Scandlines invested in a power cable with 50 kV / 25 MW to Færgevej in Rødbyhavn. This cable will now be extended to the ferry berths, where a transformer and a charging station will be installed. There are plans to also enable charging in Puttgarden once a good solution for procuring green energy has been found.

The modular design of the ship allows for later modifications so that it can also transport cars. In this way, Scandlines achieves maximum flexibility regarding future technology and demand.

“At Scandlines, the focus has long been on sustainability. The hybrid system was a quantum leap in green ferry operations. Scandlines not only has the world’s largest fleet of hybrid ferries, but our system is also being replicated worldwide and is a tremendous success. Now we are ready to take the next step and deploy the first emission-free ferry. The next generation is ready to take over the Puttgarden-Rødby route,” says Vagn Sørensen, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Scandlines.

NABU welcomes the step

“NABU expressly welcomes this further significant step by the shipping company Scandlines towards emission-free shipping. Scandlines not only significantly reduces its own emissions and demonstrates that even larger ships can operate today completely without greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, but also paves the way for climate-neutral shipping with its pioneering role. We are grateful for this bold step,” said Sönke Diesener, Transport Officer at NABU – Nature Conservation Union Germany e.V.

Data of the emission-free Scandlines freight ferry:

Length: 147.4 meters
Width: 25.4 meters
Design draft: 5.30 meters
Loading capacity: 66 freight units (approximately 1,200 loading meters)
Maximum number of passengers: 140
Service speed: 18 knots

Photo: © Scandlines