• January 12, 2021
• Ferries, News

Hybrid ferry Gaarden

Germany’s Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel (SFK) has exercised a contract option with Holland Shipyards Group to build three additional hybrid ferries.

The design of the new ferries will be in line with that of the Gaarden, delivered in July 2020 (see earlier story). They will measure 32.40 by 8.80 meters and will be provided with a hybrid drivetrain that can be powered by either generators or by means of a battery bank. The first two ferries will be delivered in February and May 2022 and the last one in the beginning of 2026.

“Holland shipyards successfully prevailed in an European tender among twelve other shipyards,” said SKF’s Ansgar Stalder. “The contract included four ferries but was split into a prototype and an option of three additional vessels. Since the ‘Gaarden’ has been in service for several months and fullfilled her duties, Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel is confident to extend the contract as originally intended.”

SFK is renewing its current fleet in line with the environmental goals of the city of Kiel, which aims to be CO2 neutral by 2050 and expects shipping to play a major part in the shift.