The crossing from Kamp on the mainland in eastern Mecklenburg to Karnin on the island of Usedom, which is particularly popular with cyclists, is now emission-free. This is because the Oderhaff Reederei Peters has replaced the previous diesel ship with an solar-electric ferry. The 14.65-metre emission-free ship was completed after three months by Ostseestaal. The company Ampereship was also involved in the development of the ship.
Solar modules supply the traction current
It is already the twelfth solar-electric ferry with an additional solar roof that Ostseestaal has built. The new ship carries 20 people and 15 bicycles at a service speed of eight kilometres per hour across the Szczecin Lagoon, which is only 500 metres wide at this point. It reaches a maximum speed of 15 kilometres per hour. The solar modules on the roof of the ship have a power output of 4.3 kilowatts and provide the necessary electricity for the passage between the mainland and the island of Usedom. If the modules do not supply electricity, the ferry uses a battery storage system with a capacity of 80 kilowatt hours.
Bringing electromobility to the water
The solar-electric ferry can carry 20 people and 15 bicycles per trip.
In this way, the shipping company saves 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year. "With the delivery of the new innovative Usedom ferry, Ostseestaal and Ampereship, as regionally anchored companies, are contributing to bringing e-mobility to the water in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well," emphasises Thomas Kühmstedt, Technical Director of Ostseestaal and Managing Director of Ampereship. In the meantime, the two Stralsund companies are at the forefront of building electric-solar ships for professional inland navigation throughout Europe.
More boats are being planned
The order books of the two companies are well filled. Further ambitious newbuildings are in the pipeline. Ostseestaal and Ampereship are currently building three identical passenger ships for a shipping company in Switzerland. The first of the three ships is currently in the construction phase, says Ingo Schillinger, the manager responsible for Ampereship. In addition, the Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe (BSB) shipping company based in Constance has ordered an electric solar passenger ship in Stralsund and secured an option for a second ship until the end of 2022. "These are passenger ships of a new output and size dimension," says Ingo Schillinger. (su/mfo)
See also:
Take the solar train to the beach
