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Germany has welcomed its first fully electric catamaran ferry, the E-Kat, built by the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group.<\/p>\n
The vessel was officially handed over to its operator, AG Reederei Norden-Frisia, on January 15, 2025. It will serve the route between Norddeich and Norderney in the East Frisian Wadden Sea, offering a sustainable alternative for passenger transport.<\/p>\n
The 32-meter-long E-Kat ferry is designed to carry up to 150 passengers and operate at speeds of up to 12 knots.<\/p>\n
Built with lightweight aluminium twin hulls, it has a shallow draft of just 1.2 meters, making it suitable for the region\u2019s waterways.<\/p>\n
The ferry is powered by two 600 kW electric motors driving propellers, supported by two 75 kW electric bow thrusters for enhanced manoeuvrability.<\/p>\n
The ferry is optimised for a 30-minute crossing, with 28 minutes allocated at each port for passenger embarkation and disembarkation.<\/p>\n
During this time, it will recharge its batteries using shore power connections. The vessel\u2019s battery system, developed by Dutch company EST-Floattech, features Octopus High Energy battery technology with a maximum capacity of 1.8 MW.<\/p>\n
A full charge allows for a round trip of about 11 kilometres (7 miles), ensuring entirely CO2-free operations.<\/p>\n
Following its handover, the E-Kat was transported from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Norddeich-Norden, Germany, on January 22, 2025.<\/p>\n
The journey involved towing the vessel to Germany\u2019s Borkum Island before it proceeded to Norderney and Norddeich under its electric propulsion.<\/p>\n
The ferry completed its acceptance trials, including full-power charging tests, confirming its readiness for operation.<\/p>\n
AG Reederei Norden-Frisia has integrated the E-Kat into its sustainability program, aiming for zero emissions in its operations.<\/p>\n
The company has installed photovoltaic systems at its facilities in Norddeich and Norderney to provide renewable energy for charging the ferry\u2019s batteries.<\/p>\n
A representative from Damen Shipyards, Joschka B\u00f6ddeling, stated that the E-Kat is a unique ferry, expressing confidence that it will serve reliably for many years.<\/p>\n
The vessel is expected to operate up to eight round trips daily during peak season, providing an eco-friendly transport solution while reducing the environmental impact of passenger ferry operations.<\/p>\n