Ag Ems News

Three new Incat Crowther-designed fast ferries have been delivered to serve the residents of Germany’s North Sea Island communities, who are set to receive a new commuter ferry service to the mainland.The new ferries will service three busy routes between the North Frisian Islands and Neuharlingersiel, located on the north coast of Germany’s mainland.The three vessels, named WattnExpress, Inselexpress I and Watt Sprinter, have been constructed by Singapore-based Penguin Shipyard International.According to Incat Crowther…

German ferry operator Aktien-Gesellschaft EMS (“AG EMS”) has partnered with Hogia Ferry Systems to implement their standard reservation software BOOKIT.AG EMS operates a ferry service between Emden and the island Borkum, using both traditional and high-speed ferries. The company will also use BOOKIT for its river cruises and excursions.“We had reached the end of opportunities with our current system, and we needed a modern and reliable standard ferry reservation and check-in system to replace it," said Stefan Beekhuis, CIO, AG EMS.

An upgrade by Kongsberg Maritime of the waterjets on a catamaran ferry operated by the family-run firm of AG EMS brings a new level of efficiency and environmental consideration to a route traversed by the company for 143 years.Claus Hirsch, the fleet manager with AG EMS, is a likable and personable individual. His easy demeanor suggests that he is contented with his lot in life, and no one would blame him for that. The company he works for is a family-run concern with a benevolent…

Penguin Shipyard International delivered the 46-meter, 450-passenger catamaran ferry Nordlicht II to Germany's AG EMS after the completion of sea trials in Singapore.Built by Penguin's wholly-owned subsidiary in Batam, PT. Kim Seah Shipyard Indonesia, the ferry is based on the Incat Crowther 46 design, the largest vessel from the drawing boards of Incat Crowther’s Europe office.The vessel will be operated on a number of routes, including serving the North Sea-islands Borkum and…

Dutch shipyard Royal Niestern Sander has begun building a new aft for a passenger ferry that will be converted to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion for German operator AG Ems.The shipyard is designing and building a completely new stern section to replace the one existing on the 1986-built passenger ship Münsterland, which will be fited with dual fuel engines, LNG storage tanks, propulsion systems, all LNG installations, pipelines and other systems.Niestern Sander was awarded the contract to undertake the project in July 2019…

Wärtsilä was selected to carry out a retrofitting project aimed at lessening the environmental footprint of a ferry operating on the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage listed area in the south eastern end of the North Sea.The retrofit will enable Münsterland, a RoPax ferry owned by German operator Aktien-Gesellschaft ‘Ems’ (AG Ems), to use LNG as fuel, significantly reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.Work will take place at the Koninklijke Niestern-Sander B.V. yard in the Netherlands…

Dutch shipyard Royal Niestern Sander (RNS) announced the signing of an agreement with the ferry company AG Ems for the conversion of another passenger ferry - Münsterland - to LNG propulsion.The Holland-based shipyard receives a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union for this innovation process."Thanks to the LNG conversion, the Münsterland will start using a much less polluting fuel, which will reduce emissions significantly. The new shape of the stern will also reduce the hull resistance. As a result, the ship needs less engine power to sail at the same speed, which means a reduction in fuel consumption and noise…

Currently, the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered fleet has grown globally from 118 LNG-powered vessels in operation in 2017, to 143 LNG-powered vessels in operation – with a further 135 on order and 135 LNG-ready ships either in operation or on order.According to the LNG bunkering coalition SEA\LNG, Orders for LNG-powered vessels span a variety of vessel types including tankers, cruise ships, container ships, car carriers, and Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOC)s.A press note issued by Peter Keller, SEA\LNG Chairman revealed that in 2018, new LNG-fuelled vessels included ESL shipping’s delivery of its second LNG-fuelled 25,000 DWT bulker Haaga and Crowley’s combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) El Coquí.

The first ever newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled German seagoing vessel, which is powered by a complete Wärtsilä LNG propulsion solution, had its maiden voyage on December 11. The ship has been built at the Fr. Fassmer shipyard in Germany. The passenger ferry, owned by Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH, will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland. This route takes the vessel close to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimise exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on LNG using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines. "We are very proud to be operating the first newbuild German vessel fuelled by LNG.

High ranking state officials from Norway met with the senior management team at DNV GL’s maritime headquarters in Hamburg today. Tor Svensen, CEO, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, COO,  and Torsten Schramm, President of DNV GL – Maritime, shared the classification society’s experiences with liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for shipping with Norwegian State Secretary Dilek Ayhan and spoke about the potential LNG may have for the future of the global maritime industry. The visit took place…

Germany’s AG-Ems is preparing to put two liquefied natural gas-diesel dual fuel ferries into operation for the summer season in the North Sea for the first time. They both are powered by Wärtsilä 20DF engines, with fuel to be supplied by Bomin Linde. The 305-foot Ostfriesland is in the final stages of conversion to LNG power at Germany’s BVT (Brenn-und-Verformungstechnik Bremen GmbH) shipyard using two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel generating sets driving an electric propulsion system. Ostfriesland has a Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel system. According to AG-Ems technical director Claus Hirsh, the retrofitted ferry is to resume service between Germany’s Emden (west of Hamburg) and Borkum Island in the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park in April.

Fassmer shipyard, located in Berne in Lower Saxony, and AG Ems, which is the Emden-based parent company of Cassen Eils shipping line, have signed the construction contract for the new Helgoland ferry. Imtech Marine received the order for the whole range of electrical systems and electronics. Apart from the engineering, the order contains the technical coordination and the project management. Imtech will provide the ship automation, the switchgears, the motor starters, distribution panels and lighting as well as the complete cable network.

Wärtsilä said it will will provide a complete dual-fuel propulsion and LNG equipment package for a new passenger ferry being built for the Germany based Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH. The contract was signed in October 2013 with Fr. Fassmer GmbH, the shipyard responsible for the vessel's construction. The new ferry will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland in Germany. This route will take it close to the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea national park, an ecologically sensitive UNESCO World Heritage listed area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea.

The new Fassmer built Helgoland ferry for AG EMS, will be constructed under the supervision of classification society DNV GL. The nearly 80m long vessel will be the first German flagged newbuilding to be equipped with an propulsion system designed to operate primarily with liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel. Using LNG as fuel allows the vessel to make significant cuts to its emissions to the air, bringing it into compliance with incoming regulations to protect the environment.

Wärtsilä has been awarded an important retrofitting contract by the German shipyard, BVT - Brenn - und Verformungstechnik Bremen GmbH. The project entails converting the m/v Ostfriesland, a car and passenger ferry owned by Aktien-Gesellschaft "EMS", so that it can utilise liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. The vessel sails between Emden and Borkum Island on the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive UNESCO World Heritage listed area in the southeastern part of the North Sea, and the retrofit will significantly reduce the ship's environmental impact.