GEAR | Battery system selected for future German ferry

A battery system supplied by EST-Floattech will be installed on board the new Damen-built electric fast ferry ordered by German operator Reederei Norden-Frisia.

The fully electric vessel will operate between Norddeich and the island of Norderney, which required Damen to develop a completely new series of ferry.

A standard vessel was deemed impossible due to the shallow waters in which it must operate. Secondly, the ferry will sail seven times a day, for which its draught is limited to a maximum of 1.2 metres.

The fleet of Reederei Norden-Frisia will be extended with this 32-metre-long catamaran that can carry up to 150 passengers. With the EST-Floattech battery system, the ferry can reach speeds of up to 16 knots and can charge in as little as 30 minutes.

EST-Floattech sized the battery system after calculating performance and lifetime data, based on the specified load profile of this vessel. The electrical installation of the vessel will be provided by system integrator Royal van der Leun.

The battery system is Lloyd’s Register type-approved while the ferry itself will sail under Lloyd’s Register classification.

The ferry will sail in the Wadden Sea, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where strict emissions regulations are enforced.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery to Norden-Frisia in May 2024.

See all the other news, reviews and features of this month’s Marine Engines and Propulsion Systems Week right here.