The 46.8-metre passenger vessel has been converted from diesel to fully electric propulsion, featuring a customised 2,000 kWh Lehmann Marine CUBE battery system for daily operations on the Danube
Lehmann Marine, a Sunlight Group company, has delivered a battery-electric propulsion solution for the MS SISSI passenger vessel, marking another milestone in the transition towards zero-emission inland waterway transport.
The 46.8-metre vessel, operated by Donauschifffahrt Wurm & Noé, has been converted from conventional diesel propulsion to fully electric operation through a collaboration between Lehmann Marine and shipyard ÖSWAG Werft.
Operating from Passau, Germany, the MS SISSI has capacity for up to 250 passengers and is now serving its daily passenger routes with zero local emissions.
To power the high-frequency daily passenger routes through the rivers‘ heavy currents, Lehmann Marine installed its custom 2,000 kWh CUBE battery system. The system provides maximum safety, flexibility, and operational reliability while optimising space utilisation onboard the vessel – and adds silent cruising to the travel experience of the passengers on board.
”Electrifying a vessel like the MS SISSI proves that decarbonising European waterways doesn‘t require scrapping active fleets – it’s about empowering them with the right technology“, explains Matthias Schubert, Head of Sales at Lehmann Marine. ”Built to the highest international maritime safety standards, our CUBE battery system delivers a zero-emission solution that provides the thermal stability and power required to navigate the strong currents of the Danube and Inn – all optimised for tight onboard spaces and well accessible for easy maintenance and service.“
Decarbonising active fleets on these waterways offers immediate environmental benefits, drastically cutting exhaust emissions and eliminating engine vibration and noise along densely populated waterfronts.
Florian Noé, Managing Director of Donauschifffahrt Wurm & Noé, adds: „For more than 25 years, our MS SISSI has been a cherished piece of regional transit along the Danube and Inn. Transitioning an iconic vessel to fully electric power requires absolute confidence in both safety and system endurance. Lehmann Marine’s battery architecture gives us the exact reliability, fast-charging capacity, and safety safeguards needed to run dense daily schedules without interruption. Beyond the technical achievement, the immediate impact on our passengers and local environment is extraordinary – zero exhaust emissions and a completely silent cruising experience that respects the natural river ecosystems we operate in.“
This milestone highlights the growing impact of Lehmann Marine and Sunlight Group in the maritime sector – demonstrating how smart energy infrastructure can support municipal transit, protect fragile ecosystems, and power high-frequency commercial transport.
