E-catamaran out of operation for a long time after gearbox problems off Norderney

E-catamaran out of operation for a long time after gearbox problems off Norderney

The fate of Germany's first electric ship, the e-catamaran, is once again causing excitement in the region. After only a few months in use, the eagerly awaited ship, which has been sailing between Norddeich and Norderney since April 2025, has ceased operations. The shipping company Frisia informed that technical problems had occurred with the gearbox. The decision to bring the ship into the workshop was made last Friday and temporarily catapulted the catamaran out of the schedule. Loud NDR It is hoped that the repairs will be completed by Saturday.

The problems have been known for about a week, but the shipping company's spokeswoman, Anke Wolff, remains optimistic and says that they are not worried. The technical difficulties may be “teething problems” that are normal for such an innovative project. It is comforting that the electronics of the ship, which cost an impressive 8.5 million euros, are not affected. The catamaran offers a journey time of just 30 minutes, making it twice as fast as conventional passenger ferries.

Past and challenges

But it's not just technical problems that make headlines. At the beginning of August there was a collision between the electric catamaran and another ferry during the departure maneuver in the port of Norddeich. Fortunately, all passengers and crew remained uninjured NWZ Online reported. However, the incident resulted in a hole measuring approximately 30x30 cm above the waterline of the catamaran, which was immediately inspected. A blessing in disguise: After the inspection, the ship was quickly released for ferry traffic again.

Despite these setbacks, the e-ship remains an important milestone in German shipping. Switching to electric motors not only reduces CO2 emissions, but also drives the industry trend towards more environmentally friendly alternatives. An international comparison shows increasing interest in electric ships - in Norway, for example, over 80 car ferries are already electric. The demand for hybrid and pure electric drives is constantly growing, according to an analysis by DW clarified.

A look into the future

The switch to emission-free shipping is being intensively promoted not only in Germany, but also internationally. Over the next few decades, emissions from shipping are to be significantly reduced in order to improve air quality and protect the environment. So the signs point to e-mobility, and the e-catamaran is an important step in this direction. The region now sees itself as having a duty to master the challenges and at the same time capitalize on the opportunities that this innovative drive technology offers. So, whether in port or at sea – the future of shipping is electric and will hopefully soon be able to be experienced to its fullest again.