FUTURA is expected to be delivered in June this year © Cemre Shipyard

Scandlines’ New Zero Direct Emissions Ferry FUTURA to Set Course for the Fehmarn Belt

FerryAfter a period at the shipyard's outfitting quay with tests of the ship's auxiliary systems and a successful inclining test, Scandlines' new zero direct emissions ferry FUTURA has completed the first of two sea trials in the Sea of Marmara in Turkey, where the so-called SAT (Sea Acceptance Tests) were completed.

During the sea trial, the Cemre shipyard tested the ship's systems under load in cooperation with Scandlines and under the supervision of Lloyd's Register of Classification.
“During the ten-day sea trial, the ship's batteries and electrical installations were tested. We also got to see the propulsion system in operation for the first time,” explains Rasmus Nielsen, VP, Fleet and Administration at Scandlines.

Back at the outfitting quay, the remaining systems and equipment are being commissioned to test, verify, and document that the ship fulfils the specified requirements.
Commissioning is a seal of approval that the ship is complete and ready to sail, and that the crew is trained in its operation and maintenance.
Testing all the ship’s equipment, identifying and resolving any issues, and ensuring the crew is trained in the operation and maintenance of the ship is an extensive process.

The crew has already had its first introduction to the ship in Rødbyhavn in Denmark and has been training at the shipyard, where, among other things, all safety procedures were thoroughly reviewed.
Once the ship has been commissioned, it will be handed over to Scandlines and ready to sail to Rødbyhavn with some of the future crew at the helm. Stops are planned in Gibraltar on the south coast of the Iberian Peninsula and in Brest on the west coast of France.

“It will be a very significant day for us when we see our new ferry arrive in Rødbyhavn, and we cannot wait to put her into operation. With our first emission-free ferry, we’re taking a huge step towards meeting our goal of operating with zero direct emissions on the Puttgarden-Rødby route by 2030,” says Scandlines COO Michael Guldmann Petersen.

The ferry is expected to be delivered in June and will be officially named at a ceremony in connection with its deployment on the Fehmarn Belt later in 2025.

Data for FUTURA:
• Length: 147.4 m
• Breadth: 25.4 m
• Design draught: 5.30 m
• Freight capacity: 66 freight units (approx. 1,200 lane metres)
• Max. number of passengers: 140
• Service speed: 16/10 knots
• Crossing time: 45 minutes (as of autumn 2025)
• Battery system: 10 MWh
• Charging time in port: 12 minutes (as of autumn 2025)
• Direct emissions during the crossing: 0
• Project investment: EUR 80 million

May 05 2025