Germany: Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei Puts New Ferry into Service

Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei (W.D.R.) puts the second double-ended ferry into service on the Föhr-Amrum line in only 18 months. The Schleswig-Holstein follows the example of the Uthlande, commissioned in 2010, and will have a transport capacity of 1.200 passengers and 75 cars. This double-ended ferry was built by NEPTUN WERFT shipyard in Rostock in ten months’ construction time. The 17.5-million-euro investment in a second vessel within such a short time frame allows W.D.R. to present a new overall concept on the shipping line between the North-Frisian islands of Föhr and Amrum, significantly improving transport capacity and the amenities for passengers.

Today, on 14 December, the Schleswig-Holstein continued her transfer journey from the shipyard in Rostock, where she was built, to her future home port Wyk on the island of Föhr (Wyk auf Föhr), leaving Kiel harbour and passing the Kiel Canal to sail through the North Sea. She is scheduled to begin her service in the Wadden Sea on the Dagebüll-Föhr-Amrum ferry line before Christmas. The christening ceremony for the new ship will be held on 30 December in Wyk auf Föhr.

“The Schleswig-Holstein underlines how we at W.D.R. strive to offer our passengers the best service as well as a maximum of safety and reliability. Commissioning this ferry marks the completion of our overhaul of the line’s operating concept – which we will now present to our passengers”, said Axel Meynköhn, the Managing Director of Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei on the occasion of the transfer journey. “We were pleased to have been able to commission NEPTUN WERFT shipyard in Rostock, a prestigious German shipbuilder, for the Schleswig-Holstein. And we are very excited about the result, which once again highlights the high level of competence and dedication to quality that is so characteristic of German shipbuilding.”

NEPTUN WERFT in Rostock has many years’ experience building passenger ships, and its industry reputation matches that of Sietas Werft shipyard, which successfully built the first new ship, Uthlande. “As with the first order, we decided in favour of what we saw as the best overall package,” Axel Meynköhn explained when placing the order in September 2010. W.D.R. considers it expedient to have its vessels built by German shipyards.

The Schleswig-Holstein: the 29th new construction for W.D.R. comes from NEPTUN WERFT shipyard

The new double-ended ferry is the 29th newbuild in the 126-year history of W.D.R., and was built in the NEPTUN WERFT shipyard. The shipyard, which belongs to the MEYER NEPTUN Group, has a vast amount of experience building passenger ships and specialises in river cruise ships. For the shipyard, construction of the Schleswig-Holstein also marks its entry into the Ro/Pax segment. “The double-ended ferry was a new type of ship and a reference project for NEPTUN WERFT,” said Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz, Managing Director of NEPTUN WERFT shipyard. “We have a great interest in this market segment and building this ship was an exciting project for us. We worked very closely with W.D.R. throughout the project and carefully coordinated all necessary details, such as those concerning construction supervision, for example. It was a highly enjoyable joint project.”

About the double-ended ferry

The Schleswig-Holstein will carry up to 1,200 persons and 75 cars. The ship’s design – with an identical stern and bow onto which four Voith-Schneider propellers are mounted – allows the ferry to navigate in either direction without having to go through time-consuming turning manoeuvres in the harbour. Pedestrians can reach the lounges and decks via special passenger doors on the side of the ship. The double-ended ferry is 75.88 metres long, 16.40 metres broad, has a cruising speed of 12 knots and is able to carry up to 360 tonnes. At capacity, its draught is a mere 1.75 metres. This permits the vessel to operate irrespective of the water level in the Wadden Sea, making it even more reliable as a scheduled public transport service.

For the most part, the design of the Schleswig-Holstein is modelled on the Uthlande, while some changes have been made for the passengers’ convenience. One example of this is that toilets can now be found on all passenger decks. In addition, the gradient of the stairs was reduced from 45 to 36 degrees, making them less steep and easier to climb.

Both the Schleswig-Holstein and the Uthlande have a 100% barrier-free construction – a fact for which the Sozialverband Deutschland association (association of German social organisations) nominated the two W.D.R. ferries for a special award for ships that are suitable for disabled passengers.

Christening of the Schleswig-Holstein on 30 December

Even before Christmas, passengers of the Föhr-Amrum line will have an opportunity to see the new double-ended ferry in action – as she begins her service. The new addition to the W.D.R. fleet will be properly celebrated on 30 December at 10:45 a.m. in the inner harbour of Wyk auf Föhr, when the ship is officially named Schleswig-Holstein.

This past year W.D.R.’s five passenger and car ferries transported 1.8 million passengers and 315,000 cars. Axel Meynköhn, the general manager of W.D.R., expects business to progress steadily in 2012: “The North-Frisian islands Föhr and Amrum continue to draw many visitors. They are both places of tremendous natural beauty and great places to live.”