VESSEL REVIEW | Wellingdorf – Second electric ferry in series for Germany’s SFK

German operator Schlepp- und Fahrgesellschaft Kiel (SFK) has taken delivery of a new electric ferry for sailings in and around the city of Kiel.

Designed by Portugal-based Vera Navis and built by the Holland Shipyards Group, Wellingdorf is the second ferry in a series as well as the fifth ferry overall to be built by the same shipyard for SFK.

Wellingdorf is a sister vessel of Dusternbrook, which the Holland Shipyards Group delivered to SFK in 2021. It measures 24.7 by 7.2 metres and has capacity for 140 passengers and 60 bicycles. It will operate within the area of Kiel, between Reventlou and its namesake suburb of Wellingdorf.

The new ferry is powered entirely by EST-Floattech batteries with a total installed capacity of 1,092 kWh. The vessel also has 20 solar panels on the roof to supply power for the onboard systems.

The ferry is fully electric with no backup diesel engine whereas some of the earlier electric ferries in the SFK fleet are fitted with hybrid propulsion systems. Redundancy on the new ferry is instead provided by a split battery system.

A key system on the ferry is the automated mooring system that features electro-hydraulically operated mooring hooks on both sides of the vessel. The mooring system is easily controlled from the wheelhouse. While the ferry is moored, no power has to be directed to the propulsion system, resulting in a reduction in energy consumption.