Læsø Municipality, which currently operates the island’s lifeline route to Frederikshavn in northern Jutland using the ferries MARGRETE LÆSØ (1997) and ANE LÆSØ (1995), has for several years examined various models for carrying out the necessary renewal of its ferry operations itself, particularly regarding electrification.

However, the operator has not been able to secure an economically sustainable model for investing in newly built electric ferry tonnage. Therefore, in June 2025 Molslinjen was invited to submit a proposal for operating the ferry service with a newly built electric ferry, which would effectively be a sister ship to the two newly built electric ferries NERTHUS and TYRFING, recently deployed by Molslinjen elsewhere in its extensive route network in Denmark.

According to the regional media outlet TV2 Nord, Læsø Municipality has declined Molslinjen’s offer because the municipality - with only 1,700 inhabitants - cannot secure the necessary financing to enter the contract.

The investment would require subsidies from the Danish state amounting to several hundred million kroner, and there is currently no guarantee that the island municipality will receive such funding. Læsø Municipality is therefore now making use of an option in Molslinjen’s offer to extend the response deadline by six months, in the hope of receiving financial support from the state.

© Shippax