The-Baltic-Whale

The 'Baltic Whale' has been put in operation on the route Rødby-Puttgarden on March 10, 2026, more than a year behind schedule,. The ferry was supposed to be delivered around the turn of the year 2024-2025, but was hit by delays in the construction phase at the Cemre Shipyard.The The ferry embarked on its maiden voyage to Puttgaarden at 8:05 a.m. On board, in addition to the crew and other Scandlines representatives, were freight customers who experienced this very special inaugural crossing with their booked departure. "The Baltic Whale" boasts one of the world's largest battery systems on board a ferry and can complete the crossing without direct emissions during normal operation. Furthermore, it features reduced noise emissions both above and below the water, which protects the marine environment . "The commissioning of 'The Baltic Whale' on the Fehmarn Belt is a milestone for Scandlines – a day we have been waiting for for many years. We first conceived the idea for a battery-powered ferry back in 2018, and now it's finally here. This is a great success and something we were very excited about. The new ferry is a key component of Scandlines’ Green Ambition to ensure zero-emission ferry operations by 2040. At the same time, it is designed to deliver what our customers expect from us every day: stability and operational reliability.,” said Michael Guldmann Petersen, COO of Scandlines. The “Baltic Whale” was designed as a dedicated freight ferry and offers space for a total of 66 trucks, distributed across two decks. It also has the capability to transport hazardous goods, which include industrial products, batteries, cosmetics, and auto parts, efficiently and predictably. This allows more freight to be shifted to this ferry, freeing up additional capacity for cars and passengers on the other Scandlines ferries, The 'Baltic Whale' is a crucial element of Scandlines’ Green Ambition to ensure zero-emission ferry operations by 2040. With the commissioning of the new ferry, Scandlines is increasing its transport capacity for freight units on the Rødby–Puttgarden route by 27 %. At the same time, freight customers will benefit from even better conditions on board. The “Baltic Whale” completes the 18.5-kilometer crossing in approximately 45 minutes. Thanks to Scandlines’ investment in state-of-the-art loading infrastructure in the ports, loading time was reduced to just 12 minutes per crossing. An intelligent charging station ensures that the ferry switches on automatically in less than 15 seconds, regardless of water levels or movement. The vessel also has the capability for hybrid operation and is equipped with diesel generators that can be used when needed. Reports with photos: https://www.seereisenportal.de/news/kreuzfahrt-news-schifffahrtsnachrichten/neue-elektro-faehre-verbindet-deutschland-und-daenemark-eine-der-groessten-weltweit-im-einsatz/ https://www.soefart.dk/article/view/1215976/endelig_the_baltic_whale_er_nu_i_drift https://www.scandlines.de/uber-uns/unsere-grune-ambition/unsere-neue-frachtfahre/