European ferry company Scandlines has contracted Cemre Shipyard in Turkey to build an emission-free freight ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route, reports BunkerSpot.
Battery-operated vessel launch
The ferry will be launched in 2024, Scandlines said today (8 November).
The battery-operated vessel will be able to complete the crossing in one hour – and will also be able to operate in hybrid mode whereby the voyage will take 45 minutes.
The vessel will replace the two oldest ships in the Scandlines fleet: M/V Holger Danske and M/V Kronprins Frederik.
Battery charging
The ferry will initially exclusively charge in Rødby. In 2019, Scandlines invested in a 50 kV / 25 MW power cable to Færgevej in Rødbyhavn. This cable will now be extended to the ferry berths, where a transformer and charging station will be installed. In the longer run, the plan is to also be able to charge in Puttgarden.
First zero emission ferry
‘Scandlines not only operates the world’s largest fleet of hybrid ferries, the system is also being copied worldwide and has been a huge success,’ said Chairman of Scandlines’ Supervisory Board Vagn Sørensen.
‘Now we are ready to take the next big step and insert the first zero emission ferry. The next generation of ferries is ready to take over on the Puttgarden-Rødby route.’
The announcement also drew praise from German environmental group NABU.
‘NABU welcomes this further major step by the shipping company Scandlines on the way to emission-free shipping,’ said Sönke Diesener shipping expert of NABU.
‘Scandlines not only significantly lowers its own emissions and proves that even larger ships can sail completely without greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions already today, but also paves the way for climate-neutral shipping with its pioneering role. We are thankful for this courageous step.’
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Source: BunkerSpot
