Case studies

Scandline Ferries

 
3i and Eurofund V, a fund it manages, first invested in Scandlines in 2007, initially in a consortium with Allianz Capital Partners and Deutsche Seerederei.

3i and Eurofund V now have a 96% holding in Scandlines, with the balance of the equity held by the management team. Scandlines now operates two high frequency routes between Germany and Denmark (Puttgarden-Rødby and Rostock-Gedser) and two land-based retail shops in Puttgarden and Rostock. Scandlines also owns three of the four ports from which it operates.

Introducing hybrid ferries in 2013

In 2013, Scandlines demonstrated great innovation skills with the launch of its ground-breaking hybrid system on its Puttgarden-Rødby route. Scandlines was the first ferry operator in the world to make large-scale use of an on-board hybrid propulsion system, which stores excess energy in batteries, enabling a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 15%. The system’s power equals that of approximately 600 hybrid cars and can propel a 8,800 ton lightweight ferry for about 30 minutes at a speed of 14 knots.

Scandlines has received a number of awards for this innovative technology, including the Shippax Award and the Fathom Ship Efficiency awards in 2014.

All four ferries that Scandlines operates on its Puttgarden-Rødby route are now hybrid and, in addition, are equipped with modern scrubbers that clean the engine exhaust streams of pollutants such as sulphur, nitrogen and particulates, reducing sulphur emissions by at least 90%. Both ferries operated on the Rostock-Gedser route are due to be replaced with new, hybrid models in 2016, both of which will also be equipped with modern scrubbers.

Scandlines’ journey towards zero emissions

Scandlines’ ambition is to introduce emissions-free, purely battery operated ferry services on its Puttgarden-Rødby route. Based on its successful experience with the hybrid propulsion system, it is now preparing the next step towards this objective: plug-in hybrid ferries.

These will further reduce emissions by charging a 2.7MWh battery bank in port, which will provide sufficient power to operate the ferry purely on battery propulsion when leaving and approaching the port.