Scandlines is off to a strong start to the peak season: more guests and freight!

Scandlines is off to a strong start to the peak season: more guests and freight!

The ferry company Scandlines are optimistic about the upcoming summer holidays in 2025. With a solid tailwind from the first half of the year, in which car trips increased by 4.4% and passenger numbers increased by 2% compared to the previous year, interest in the popular Rostock-Gedser route remains unbroken. The freight sector is also robust, with an increase of 1% compared to the previous year. In 2024, over 2.7 million travelers used Scandlines services, which impressively underlines the high popularity of the connection. This reports the Warnemünder.

Summer promises to be an enjoyable time for the shipping company, as the ferries between Germany and Denmark are valued not only for their leisure traffic, but also for their freight traffic. But in addition to the numbers, Scandlines also boasts a clear sustainability strategy that aims to achieve emission-free shipping by 2040. The modern hybrid ferries that already operate on the Baltic Sea are an essential part of this strategy.

Sustainability in focus

A special highlight are the hybrid ferries, which use innovative rotor sail technology. Scandlines has been using environmentally friendly hybrid propulsion since 2013 and has installed rotor sails on the “Copenhagen” and “Berlin” ferries in recent years. This modern technology, which works with a 30 meter high rotating cylinder, should actually relieve the green conscience of shipping. The Magnus effect that is used ensures that the ferries are not only more efficient, but also more environmentally friendly. This reduces CO2 emissions by four percent on average, explains Scandlines.

The Rostock-Gedser route benefits from optimal wind conditions, which make the use of the rotor sails particularly effective. With the aim of further increasing environmental friendliness, the first battery-electric freight ferry will go into regular operation in 2025. Scandlines has also signed a contract as an official TourCert Qualified Partner to actively promote sustainable tourism in the Rostock region and to develop environmentally friendly mobility together with regional players.

Progress in the shipping industry

Both the hybrid ferries from Scandlines and the new developments from Hadag in Hamburg show that the trend towards environmentally friendly forms of propulsion in shipping is unstoppable. Hadag recently put the flagship hybrid ferry, Type 2030, into operation, which features state-of-the-art drive technology and environmentally friendly features. These advances in shipping show that innovations can significantly improve not only the efficiency but also the environmental impact of the transport sector, as well Shipping and technology reported.

In summary, Scandlines takes a pioneering role when it comes to promoting green mobility on waterways and shows that local companies with vision can not only be economically successful, but also take responsibility for the environment. The coming months promise not only exciting journeys across the Baltic Sea, but also advances in sustainable technology in the maritime world.