The German Norden-Frisia shipping company is having its island ferry, the “Frisia I”, extensively modernised by Meyer RE. At a cost of around €10 million, the vessel, built in 1970, is to be fitted with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system and a refurbished passenger lounge.
AG Reederei Norden-Frisia, based in Norddeich, is continuing to modernise its fleet: Meyer RE, a company based in Papenburg, has been awarded the contract to convert the island ferry “Frisia I” to a hybrid propulsion system and refurbish the passenger area. The contract was signed on Thursday in Norddeich. The refit work is scheduled to begin in September 2027 and be completed by 1 March 2028.
New propulsion system for vintage ferry
The focus is on converting the existing propulsion system. The ferry, built in 1970 at the Meyer shipyard, currently has three diesel-powered propulsion units: two Schottel propellers that can rotate 360 degrees and a centrally mounted fixed propeller. In future, the two Schottel propulsion units are to be powered by more efficient diesel engines, whilst the central propeller will be fitted with an electric drive.
A battery system with a capacity of 1,200 kWh is to supply power to both the central electric drive and the entire on-board electrical system. The two existing diesel generators will be phased out completely. The charging current is to come predominantly from the shipping company’s own photovoltaic systems and associated storage systems.
As a result of the retrofit, Norden-Frisia expects diesel consumption to be reduced by more than 40 per cent. This should cut annual CO₂ emissions by around 400 tonnes. In addition to the propulsion system, the passenger saloon will also be modernised. Plans include a new interior design, an LED lighting concept and the upgrading of the electrical and network systems. The “Frisia IV”, which was modernised last year, serves as a model.
Total investment: €10 million
“With this modernisation by Meyer RE, we are extending the service life of the Frisia I by many years, thereby living up to our company’s comprehensive sustainability strategy,” explains Carl-Ulfert Stegmann, a member of the shipping company’s executive board.
The total investment amounts to around €10 million. Of this, around €2.5 million will be funded under the Federal Ministry of Transport’s ‘Sustainable Modernisation of Coastal Vessels’ (NaMKü) funding scheme.
For Meyer RE, the contract also represents a further step in the expansion of its modernisation business. “We see ferries as an important area for growth,” says Managing Director Bertram Koch. The company specialises in the modernisation and life-cycle extension of existing vessels. Once the work is complete, the “Frisia I” is set to resume regular ferry service between Norddeich and Norderney.
