German shipping company Reederei Norden-Frisia recently took delivery of a new all-electric ferry.
The vessel, which has been named Frisia E-I, was delivered shortly after the completion of its final acceptance trials, which fulfiled the requirements for official approval, the necessary permits, the conclusion of necessary insurance, and the transfer to its home port of Norddeich.
The necessary charging infrastructure on land has also been installed, and charging at full power of 1,800 kW has already been tested at the pier.
The ferry is the first purely electrically powered German seagoing vessel, according to Reederei Norden-Frisia.
The vessel has a passenger capacity of 150 and will be propelled by two 600kW electric motors.
The 32-metre Frisia E-I has been designed to operate on a 30-minute route with 28 minutes allowed at each end to disembark and embark passengers.
Given the shallow waterways in which it will operate, it has been designed with twin hulls giving it a draught of just 1.2 metres. These aluminium hulls together with a superstructure, also made of aluminium, ensure that weight has been kept to a minimum, enabling it to operate at speeds of up to 12 knots.
Other features include oversized windows to allow passengers to enjoy the views of the Wadden Sea, the world’s largest tidal flats system and a UNESCO World Heritage site.