Scandlines Explained

Scandlines is a ferry company that operates the Rødby–Puttgarden and Gedser–Rostock ferry routes between Denmark and Germany.

Scandlines owns seven ferries, six of which are hybrid ferries, making it the owner of the world’s largest fleet of hybrid ferries. The company has two subsidiaries—Scandlines Danmark ApS and Scandlines Deutschland GmbH—which operate in the two main countries.

History

In 1903, the first railway ferry sailed between Gedser in Denmark and Warnemünde in Germany. The route was operated by DSB on the Danish side in partnership with a state-owned German shipping company.^[1]

A second service, the "bird's flight line" (die Vogelfluglinie in German) between Rødby and Puttgarden, was added in 1963, creating a direct route between Copenhagen and Hamburg.^[1]

The company was separated from DSB in 1995 and transformed into an independent limited company called DSB Rederi. It was subsequently rebranded as Scandlines in 1997. The Scandlines brand had already been in use since 1991 on the Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry route.^[2] In 1998, the two shipping company partners—Danish Scandlines and German DFO—merged to form Scandlines, which was owned by the Danish Ministry of Transport and Deutsche Bahn.^[1]

Scandlines was privatised in 2007, with 3i and Allianz Capital Partners each acquiring 40% ownership and Deutsche Seereederei holding the remaining 20%.^[3] In 2010, Deutsche Seereederei sold its shareholding to 3i and Allianz. In 2013, Allianz sold its 49% stake to 3i.^{[4] [5]} In 2018, First Sentier Investors and Hermes Investment Management acquired shareholdings of 50% and 15% respectively.^[6]

Between 1999 and 2015, several Scandlines routes were sold, including Aarhus–Kalundborg to Molslinjen and Helsingør-Helsingborg to ForSea Ferries.

Scandlines currently operates two routes: Gedser–Rostock and Rødby–Puttgarden. The company expects to continue operating on the Rødby–Puttgarden route despite the planned completion of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel.^[7]

Ferries

Scandlines operates six hybrid ferries and one freight ferry. In 2022, the two ferries on the Gedser–Rostock route were fitted with rotor sails.^[8]

Rødby–Puttgarden route

Gedser–Rostock route

The ferries M/F Berlin and M/F Copenhagen operate the regular services on the Gedser–Rostock route. Approximately nine daily sailings are operated in each direction, with departures typically spaced at intervals of two to three hours. The crossing time on the route is approximately two hours.^[9]

Freight ferry

In November 2021, it was announced that the company has ordered a double-end 10 MWh battery-electric ferry from Cemre Shipyard for the Puttgarden-Rødby route. The new vessel was due to enter service in 2024 and will have two-deck loading alongside a freight capacity of 66 HGVs, or some 1200 lane metres.^[13]

Harbours

Scandlines owns the harbour areas in Rødby, Gedser, and Puttgarden, and leases an area in the harbour of Rostock.^[14]

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20230607194302/https://www.scandlines.com/about-us/our-history/ Our history
2. https://www.hauerslev.com/dsb/faerger/faergeaar/1991/index.htm Hauerslev.com. DSB Færgeåret 1991.
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20240904172041/https://www.joc.com/article/dsr-2-partners-to-acquire-scandlines-5305338 DAR, 2 partners to acquire Scandilines
4. https://www.allianz.com/en/press/news/financials/stakes_investments/news-2013-11-05.html 3i acquires Allianz Capital Partners’ stake in Scandlines
5. 3i Group control Scandilines Ships Monthly February 2014 page 11
6. https://web.archive.org/web/20240904170055/https://baltictransportjournal.com/index.php?id=313 3i Group sells Scandilines, but re-buys stake
7. https://www.tv2east.dk/lolland/rederi-opruster-i-kamp-om-femern-koeber-batterifaerge-for-over-en-halv-milliard TV2east.dk. Rederi opruster i kamp om Femern - køber batterifærge for over en halv milliard.
8. Web site: Norsepower Rotor Sail Installed on Scandlines Ferry. Baird Maritime. 28 May 2020. 13 January 2023.
9. Web site: Rostock-Gedser timetable. rostockgedser.com. 2 January 2026.
10. Web site: Scandlines’ New Zero Direct Emissions Ferry FUTURA Prepares For Departure . Shippax . en . 24 July 2025.
11. Web site: NY Scandlines fragtfærge søsat .
12. https://www.maritimedanmark.dk/scandlines-nye-hybridfaerge-er-pa-vej-hjem-til-danmark
13. Web site: Scandlines orders zero-emission ferry for Puttgarden-Rødby route. Shippax SE. 9 November 2021. 13 January 2023.
14. Web site: Our ferries and harbours. Scandlines. 13 January 2023.