Scandlines

Scandlines
Company typePrivate
IndustryTransport
Founded1998
FounderDanish Ministry of Transport
Deutsche Bahn
Headquarters
Copenhagen
,
Denmark
Area served
Baltic Sea
Key people
Michael Guldmann Petersen {Chief Executive Officer}
ServicesFerries
Revenue€466 million (2023)
€134 million (2023)
ParentFirst Sentier Investors (50%)
3i (35%)
Hermes Investment Management (15%)
SubsidiariesScandlines Deutschland, Scandlines Danmark
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Scandlines is a ferry company that operates the Rødby–Puttgarden and Gedser–Rostock ferry routes between Denmark and Germany.

Scandlines owns seven ferries, six of which are hybrid ferries, making Scandlines the owner of the world's largest fleet of hybrid ferries. It has two subsidiaries, Scandlines Danmark ApS and Scandlines Deutschland GmbH, which operate in the two main countries.

History

Routes

In 1903, the first railway ferry sailed between Gedser in Denmark and Warnemünde in Germany, where DSB operated the route from the Danish side in partnership with a state-owned German shipping company.[1]

A second service, the 'bird's flight line' (die Vogelfluglinie in German) between Rødby and Puttgarden was added in 1963, creating a direct route between Copenhagen and Hamburg.[1]

The company was separated from DSB in 1995, and transformed into an independent limited company called DSB Rederi, which was, in turn, rebranded Scandlines in 1997. The Scandlines brand had already been in use since 1991 on the Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry route[2] In 1998, the two shipping company partners, Danish Scandlines and German DFO, merged to form Scandlines, owned by the Danish Ministry of Transport and Deutsche Bahn.[1]

Scandlines was privatised in 2007 with 3i and Allianz Capital owning 40% each and Deutsche Seereederei 20%.[3] In 2010 Deutsche Seereederei sold its shareholding to 3i and Allianz. In 2013 Allianz sold its 49% to 3i.[4][5] In 2018 First Sentier Investors and Hermes Investment Management acquired 50% and 15% shareholdings.[6]

Between 1999 and 2015, some of Scandlines' routes were sold, including Aarhus-Kalundborg to Molslinjen, and Helsingør-Helsingborg to ForSea Ferries.

Scandlines operates two routes; Gedser to Rostock and Rødby to Puttgarden. Scandlines expects to continue operating on the Rødby–Puttgarden route despite the planned completion of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel in 2029.[7]

Ferries

Scandlines has six hybrid ferries and one freight ferry. In 2022, two ferries had a rotor sail mounted.[8]

Scandlines' ferries on Rødby-Puttgarden:

Name Built Tonnage Passengers Notes Images
Prins Richard 1997 14.621 1140 Hybrid
Prinsesse Benedicte 1997 14.621 1140 Hybrid
Schleswig-Holstein 1997 15.187 1200 Hybrid
Deutschland 1997 15.187 1200 Hybrid

Scandlines' ferries on Gedser-Rostock:

Name Built Tonnage Passengers Notes Images
Berlin 2012 22.319 1.300 Hybrid and rotor sail
Berlin before rotor sail
Copenhagen 2012 22.319 1.300 Hybrid and rotor sail

Freight ferry

Name Built Tonnage Passengers Notes Images
Kronprins Frederik 1981 16.071 1400 Freight &
Replacement
Futura 2024 TBD 140 E-Ferry
Freight		 [9][10]

In November 2021, it was announced that the company has ordered a battery-electric ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route from Cemre Shipyard. The new vessel is due to enter service in 2024 and will have two-deck loading alongside a freight capacity of 66 HGVs, or some 1200 lane metres.[11]

Harbours

Scandlines owns the harbours areas in Rødby, Gedser and Puttgarden and leases an area in the harbour of Rostock.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Our history Scandilines
  2. ^ Hauerslev.com. DSB Færgeåret 1991. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. ^ DAR, 2 partners to acquire Scandilines Journal of Commerce 4 April 2007
  4. ^ 3i acquires Allianz Capital Partners’ stake in Scandlines Allianz 5 November 2013
  5. ^ 3i Group control Scandilines Ships Monthly February 2014 page 11
  6. ^ 3i Group sells Scandilines, but re-buys stake Baltic Transport Journal 4 April 2018
  7. ^ TV2east.dk. Rederi opruster i kamp om Femern - køber batterifærge for over en halv milliard. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Norsepower Rotor Sail Installed on Scandlines Ferry". Baird Maritime. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  9. ^ "NY Scandlines fragtfærge søsat".
  10. ^ https://www.faergenyt.dk/scandlines-bygningen-af-futura-er-gaaet-ind-i-sidste-fase/
  11. ^ "Scandlines orders zero-emission ferry for Puttgarden-Rødby route". Shippax SE. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Our ferries and harbours". Scandlines. Retrieved 13 January 2023.

Media related to Scandlines at Wikimedia Commons