At the same time, Scandlines announced in a press release that the yard stay in Lithuania would also be used for an extensive refurbishment of the 1997-built ferry. The overall conversion project, representing an investment of more than DKK 200 million, therefore also includes a comprehensive refurbishment of the passenger areas. Decks 5 and 6, where the passenger facilities are located, will be rebuilt with new restaurant, café and shopping areas.

A new outdoor area with a playground will also be established on the sun deck, while the sanitary facilities will be improved with additional new toilets and modern technology. The work on decks 5 and 6 will involve more than simply replacing the interiors. According to Scandlines, significant changes will also be made to the general arrangement of the passenger decks.

The new interior will be complemented by new food-service concepts, digital ordering solutions and improved passenger flows designed to minimise waiting times and take the overall onboard experience to a new level.

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN was originally delivered as a diesel-electric ferry but was converted to hybrid operation in 2014, when it was also equipped with SOx scrubbers ahead of the implementation of the IMO’s ECA sulphur requirements in Northern Europe at the beginning of 2015. Its sister ship DEUTSCHLAND had undergone a similar conversion the previous year, as had the route’s two Danish ferries, PRINS RICHARD and PRINSESSE BENEDIKTE. In doing so, Scandlines positioned itself as a pioneer in ferry electrification more than a decade ago.

The conversion of SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN to plug-in hybrid operation is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport as part of a programme to modernise coastal vessels and reduce emissions. It represents another important step towards Scandlines’ long-term goal of operating without direct emissions by 2040. SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN is one of two vessels on the Rødby–Puttgarden route that will begin operating as plug-in hybrid ferries during this year and early next year.

Scandlines announced in June 2025 that the conversions of SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN and subsequently DEUTSCHLAND were expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN is one of the route’s two “German ferries” – a reference to the fact that they have traditionally operated under the German flag on a route that recruits crew members on both the German and Danish sides. However, it transferred to the Portuguese flag in June this year. This creates an equal distribution of crewing across the route’s five ferries, including the freight-oriented, fully electric THE BALTIC WHALE, built in 2025. As the Portuguese flag permits a mixed German-Danish crew, the fleet is now effectively divided between two and a half ferries with German crews and two and a half with Danish crews.

© Shippax