Local authorities had originally wanted to choose a shipyard and place the contract mid January and have the ferry completed mid July. Now, however, Else will not be completed until August, local spokesman Hans-Werner Speerforck told MJ. The delay in clinching the project is believed to be connected with price. The ?470,000 price now announced, which Speerfork said was a good one, is a lot less than the ?610,000 mentioned in early reports about the project. EU and regional bodies as well as local districts are contributing to it.

A year ago port police in Hamburg told MJ that the price/ performance ratio was the reason why it had chosen the Rean shipyard to build the 14.75m port patrol boat WS27, which reportedly cost ?590,000.

The two districts which will now continue to be linked by ferry across the River Stor are Bahrenfleth and Beidenfleth.

The operator of the old ferry there, also called Else, will continue to keep the old boat in operation until the new one arrives and he will also operate that, Speerforck said.

The new Else will be 8.3m wide with a 4.2m landing ramp in the bow. The side height is put at 1m to1.1m and the vessel draws a mere 0.7m fully laden. It will be 25dwt and able to carry vehicles up to that weight as well as 45 passengers.