Scandlines’ commitment to reducing CO₂ emissions and driving environmentally friendly ferry transport has received recognition from the German Society for Transportation Research (DVWG). On Tuesday, Scandlines was awarded the Innovation Prize for their project, which is converting ferries on the Rødby-Puttgarden route into plug-in hybrids.
The ferries M/F Deutschland and M/F Schleswig-Holstein will, in the future, be able to recharge in Rødby and Puttgarden, providing up to 80% of the energy required for each crossing via batteries. Scandlines has developed special charging towers that can recharge the ferries in just 12 minutes—a solution DVWG describes as “revolutionary” in the maritime industry. This project received the award on Tuesday at the German Mobility Congress in Frankfurt.
A clear signal
– We are incredibly proud and honored that our project was chosen as the winner of the award, says Marko Möller, Head of Business Administration & Special Projects at Scandlines.
– This sends a clear signal to our many colleagues and experts, who contribute creative ideas and technical solutions to make our fleet more and more sustainable, Möller adds.
Set to launch in 2025
The project is expected to be implemented in 2025 and is part of Scandlines’ overarching goal of achieving zero-emission ferry operations on the Rødby-Puttgarden route by 2030. The long-term ambition is to eliminate all direct emissions from the company by 2040. Anette Ustrup Svendsen, Head of Corporate Communications at Scandlines, sees electrification as “the heart of Scandlines’ green agenda” and explains that the experience with hybrid ferries since 2013 has laid the foundation for fully electric ferry operations.
Charging towers impress
According to the jury chairman and RMV director, Professor Knut Ringat, Scandlines’ electric ferries demonstrate how the maritime industry can play a role in the green transition.
– Scandlines’ move from hybrid engines to a fully electric solution is nothing short of a revolution in the shipping industry. The jury was particularly impressed by the charging towers, which enable rapid recharging, says Knut Ringat.
Jörg-Andreas Krüger, president of the environmental organization NABU, also praised Scandlines’ initiative:
– The ferries between Denmark and Germany show how shipping companies globally can move closer to emission-free operations. We are proud to be a long-term partner with Scandlines, he says.
DVWG’s Innovation Award, presented for the fourth time, aims to highlight projects that have the potential to transform the mobility landscape.
