Scandlines brings a green revolution: two ferries will be emission-free!

Scandlines brings a green revolution: two ferries will be emission-free!

The Danish ferry company Scandlines today announced that it will invest 31 million euros in the conversion of two ferries on the Vogelflug line. This measure is intended to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80 percent and to increase ferry operations using electricity from renewable energies. The conversion work will take place at the Western Shiprepair shipyard in Lithuania and is expected to be completed in early 2026. Loud North24 The ferry “Deutschland” will be converted at the end of August, followed by the “Schleswig-Holstein” in December.

A central element of the conversion is the installation of 5 MWh energy storage systems and charging devices on board and at the ferry piers in Puttgarden and Rødby. This initiative is in line with Scandlines' goal to operate the Puttgarden-Rødby route with zero emissions by 2030. In addition, the company intends to become a direct zero-emission company by 2040, which underlines the relevance of this measure.

Support and plan implementation

The project is financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, which will cover up to 40 percent of the conversion costs. Scandlines' efforts to reduce emissions have been underway for some time. Between 2013 and 2024, the company invested 380 million euros in technologies aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of maritime transport. Previous investments have included, for example, hybrid ferries on the Rostock-Gedser route as well as new propeller blades and highly efficient thrusters.

Scandlines sustainability strategy

The electrification initiative is part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy that Scandlines implements in six core areas: environmental protection, health and safety, people, customer satisfaction, compliance and ethical behavior and healthy supply chains. The company confirms this in its regular business and sustainability report, which it publishes to account for progress in these areas. Scandlines is also a participant in the UN Global Compact and is committed to integrating universal principles on human rights, labor standards, the environment and anti-corruption into its corporate strategy, such as scandlines.de reported.

With its green agenda and diverse measures to reduce emissions, Scandlines not only pursues the goal of its own competitiveness, but also of fulfilling the wishes and expectations of its customers. COO Michael Guldmann Petersen emphasizes the importance of electrification as the key to a sustainable future in ferry operations and thus also for our own competitiveness.