Scandlines has received a new freight ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route which can sail without direct emissions. The ferry was officially named The Baltic Whale on 7 January 2026 and launches the next generation of ferries on the route.

Increased freight capacity

The new vessel increases the current capacity to transporting freight units by 27 percent on the route and is able to transport lorries on both the upper and lower decks. Therefore, the berths in Puttgarden and Rødby were rebuilt to also load lorries on the upper deck.

Charging

Since starting to operate on the Fehmarn Belt in 2026, the large battery system of 10 MWh can be charged in just 17 minutes in Rødby. With renewable power, of course. In 2019, Scandlines invested in a 50 kV / 25 MW power cable to Rødbyhavn. This cable has been extended approximately 1.2 kilometres to a new transformer between ferry berth 2 and 3. The ferry charger, transformer, control and switch gear equipment are in place directly at the ferry berth in Rødbyhavn.

In Puttgarden, Scandlines invested in a 30 kV / 15 MW power cable including transformer and charging station for the port. Once finalized in March 2026, it can bring the charging time to just 12 minutes in each port, allowing the ferry to cover the 18.5 km between Puttgarden and Rødby in 45 minutes with zero direct emissions.

Direct emission free ferry operation

When charging only in one port, the crossing time is approximately one hour, and the ferry can sail without direct emissions in operation. It can also be operated as a hybrid ferry and then the crossing time is 45 minutes.

Scandlines’ is working towards a vision of direct emissions free ferry operations until 2040. By investing in the new ferry, we have taken an important step towards achieving this goal.

Data for Scandlines' new freight ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route

• Length: 147.4 m
• Breadth: 25.4 m
• Design draft: 5.30 m
• Freight capacity: 66 freight units (abt. 1,200 lane meters)
• Max. number of passengers: 140
• Service speed: 16/10 knots
• Crossing time: 45/69 minutes (as of 2026)
• Battery system: 10 MWh
• Charging time in port: 12 minutes (as of 2026)
• Investment: 80 MEUR

Scandlines