AG Reederei Norden-Frisia announce the successful completion of the official acceptance voyages for its ground breaking new fully electric catamaran (E-Kat). These milestones pave the way for the E-Kat’s transfer to its home port in Norddeich, marking a significant step forward in sustainable maritime transportation.
“All formalities have been completed,” says Michael Garrelts, technical inspector at AG Reederei Norden-Frisia. “If the weather plays along, the E-Kat will arrive in Norddeich in January.”
The charging infrastructure on land has also been largely installed. Charging with full power of 1,800 kW has already been tested on the pier. “As things stand, we can start the season as planned with regular trips between Norddeich and Norderney,” says Michael Garrelts.
E-Kat, designed and built by Damen Group is the first purely electrically powered German seagoing vessel. It is part of a comprehensive sustainability concept of the AG Reederei Norden-Frisia. The shipping company has already covered 600 parking spaces in Norddeich with photovoltaic modules and installed additional photovoltaic systems on all suitable buildings of the shipping company on the mainland and on the islands. There are charging stations for electric vehicles in all of the shipping company’s parking spaces.
“Our long-term goal is to create a closed cycle of electricity production and electricity consumption,” says shipping company board member Cal-Ulfert Stegmann. With the e-catamaran, the travel time between Norddeich and Norderney will be almost halved. “We will not cause any CO₂ emissions,” says Stegmann.
The journey time with the E-Kat to Norderney will be just 30 minutes. Once back in Norddeich, the battery is recharged in around 28 minutes and the E-Kat can then start its next journey to the island. The plan is to use the ship in the high season and to sail to the island of Norderney up to eight times a day.
DATA & FACTS
- Length: 32.3 meters
- Hull material: aluminium
- Hull shape: catamaran (less draft, minimised flow resistance)
- Draft: 1.2 meters (without trim at full load)
- Number of passengers: 150
- Travel time Norderney (11 km): 30 min.
- Propulsion: 2 propellers driven by electric motors (600 kW each),
- 2 electric bow thrusters (75 kW each)
- Speed: max. 19 kn
- Payload: 11,250 kg
