Residents of Germany’s North Sea Islands now have an efficient new commuter ferry service to the mainland courtesy of three new Incat Crowther fast ferries.
The new ferries, WattnExpress, Inselexpress I and Watt Sprinter, are servicing three busy routes between the North Frisian Islands and Neuharlingersiel.
Ed Dudson, Incat Crowther’s managing director for Europe, said the delivery of the new commuter fast ferries was the latest successful project in a long partnership with client EMS Maritime Offshore (EMO).
“Incat Crowther has collaborated closely with EMS Maritime Offshore on these new vessels and their delivery marks an important milestone for the communities that rely on EMO’s service to commute to and from the German mainland,” he said.
Digital shipbuilding
The ferries, constructed by Penguin Shipyard International, have been tailored to the unique local conditions in the intertidal Wadden Sea zone which separates the German mainland from the North Frisian Islands and the North Sea.
Vessel design relied on Incat Crowther’s digital shipbuilding process. This process saw the Incat team of designers sit down with the team at EMO and ensure the design of each ferry was tailored to local conditions and requirements.
Each vessel has a draft of less than 0.7 metres, making the ferries’ operation independent of tidal conditions, which in the area can reach very low levels.
The IMO Tier III-compliant vessels can transport up to 54 passengers at speeds of up to 19 knots. The vessels have also been customised to cater to the local community with space for wheelchair access and large indoor and outdoor luggage storage areas on the main deck.
The delivery of the three new Frisian Island ferries comes after Incat Crowther also delivered a 46-metre passenger ferry that services Emden – Borkum for AG EMS the parent company of EMO. It also follows delivery of a new 32m crew transfer vessel for the same operator.
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