MEYER RE will upgrade ‘Frisia I’ with hybrid propulsion technology, targeting annual CO₂ emission reductions of up to 400 tonnes
MEYER RE has secured a contract to modernise the propulsion system of Frisia I, an island ferry operated by German ferry company AG Reederei Norden-Frisia, converting the vessel to hybrid propulsion. The contract was signed in Norddeich, Germany, on 22 October 2026.
Built by MEYER WERFT in Papenburg in 1970, the ferry will undergo a comprehensive propulsion upgrade designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions while extending the operational life of the existing vessel.
The new hybrid configuration will retain the ferry’s three-propeller arrangement, with the two Schottel propellers powered by more efficient diesel engines and the central propeller driven electrically. A 1,200 kWh battery system will supply power to the electric propulsion motor and the vessel’s onboard electrical grid.
As part of the conversion, the two existing diesel generators will be removed. Battery charging will rely primarily on photovoltaic installations and energy storage systems operated by AG Reederei Norden-Frisia, further supporting the vessel’s transition towards more sustainable operations.
The hybrid propulsion upgrade is expected to deliver fuel savings of more than 40% and reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 400 tonnes annually.
For MEYER RE, the project highlights the potential of modernising existing vessels to improve environmental performance and operational efficiency without replacing the entire vessel. By combining upgraded diesel engines, battery storage and electric propulsion, the conversion aims to support more energy-efficient island ferry services.
The conversion is scheduled to take place between September 2027 and 1 March 2028.
