The German shipping company AG Norden-Frisia has christened the latest newbuilding for its subsidiary Cassen-Tours Cassen Eils & Frisia Touristik and sent it on its first voyages to the island of Juist. At the same time, options for further newbuildings were secured.
Tina Bolte gave the “Inselexpress 2” its name. “As a native of Juist, I am particularly pleased to be able to officially put the new ‘Inselexpress 2’ into service with the christening,” said the godmother. The new ferry will help to ensure that Juist is even better connected to the mainland.
The keel of the “Inselexpress 2” was laid in July 2024 at the NG Shipyards shipyard in Lauwersoog in the Netherlands. The ship, which has a capacity of 54 passengers, will now mainly operate between Norddeich and Juist. “Our customers have responded very well to the existing express service in the past,” says Fred Meyer, Managing Director of Cassen-Tours, which already operates the “Inselexpress 1”. With the new fast express ferry, the shipping company is meeting the demand of many island visitors.
Norden-Frisia expands its services
“The ‘Island Express 2‘ is therefore another building block in our concept of comprehensive island supply and at the same time the first new building of our own,” says Meyer.
“The new ferry is optimized for trips in the Wadden Sea,” emphasizes Rolf Harms, also Managing Director of the shipping company that placed the order. With a draught of just 75 cm, even a tide-dependent island such as Juist can be reached easily and more frequently. A special feature is the propulsion via a new, more efficient water jet drive from Hamilton, which is specially designed for the required conditions.
The engines can be powered by diesel (EN590), GTL (gas-to-liquid) and HVO (hydrotreated vegitable oil). “In addition, the ‘Inselexpress 2’ offers optimally utilized space for passengers, crew and luggage and therefore more comfort than the small water cabs,” says Harms.
“We are delighted to have played a key role in the development of this fast ferry for special use in the Wadden Sea and that we were able to build the ‘Inselexpress 2’,” says Albert Keizer, Managing Director of NG Shipyards. “From the Group’s point of view, we will be expanding our range of services for guests even further in order to make both the express service and the ferry service to Juist and Norderney even more flexible,” adds Frisia board member Carl-Ulfert Stegmann. Cassen-Tours has therefore secured options for further orders in the future.
