First electric ferry buzzes across Lake Constance

In professional jargon, it's called "launching" when a new ship is set afloat – this time it was a very special launching because today’s successful launch of the first electric ferry on Lake Constance also marks a turning point. The Lake Constance Navigation Company (BSB) aims to convert all ships in their fleet to environmentally friendly drives by 2035, making Lake Constance a model region for a climate-neutral future in passenger shipping.

Fleet of Ships in Transition

"We want and need to shift all our ships away from fossil fuel carbon," says Christoph Witte, Technical Director and member of the BSB's management.

Leaving fossil fuel propulsion behind is more challenging for ships than, for example, for cars. Consequently, the BSB is currently involved in a variety of alternative propulsion projects in shipping. Fully electric drives play a role in this, as do the possibilities of equipping the existing fleet – especially the historic ships – with environmentally friendly propulsion alternatives.

"We are already implementing solutions that are technically feasible and we cannot and do not want to waste any time on the path to decarbonization," says Witte.

Future Deployment Area: Überlinger See

The future deployment area of the new electric ferry with the provisional name "Artemis" is the Überlinger See (the northwestern basin of Lake Constance) between Uhldingen and Mainau Island. However, before it comes to that, programming work and the commissioning of the individual ship systems are still on the to-do list—after that, the "Artemis" will be thoroughly tested again during trial runs. The ship's crew also still needs to be trained. From July 18, 2022, the electric ferry is expected to start welcome trips for locals and visitors from various ports.

Construction Time – Less Than a Year

The completion of the "Artemis" took just under nine months—to keep the ship's resistance and wave formation low, the electric ship was constructed at the Stralsund shipyard Ostseestaal using the catamaran principle. The further assembly and expansion of the sections manufactured there took place at the shipyard in Friedrichshafen.

Details about the ship

According to BSB, the Artemis is completely barrier-free. With a length of 33 m and a width of 9 m, the electric ship offers space for up to 300 passengers. To enable ecological all-day operation, the electric ferry travels at 15 km/h. The 1,000 kWh battery is to be recharged during the lunch break and at night. Solar cells on the open deck provide additional green electricity during the journey. If the technology and design prove themselves in use, the construction of an electric sister ship is planned, which, according to BSB, could also sail across the lake as early as 2025.