Scandlines

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

Scandlines

Company type	Private
Industry	Transport
Founded	1998
Founder	Danish Ministry of Transport Deutsche Bahn
Headquarters	Copenhagen , Denmark
Area served	Baltic Sea
Key people	Michael Guldmann Petersen {Chief Executive Officer}
Services	Ferries
Revenue	€466 million (2023)
Operating income	€134 million (2023)
Parent	First Sentier Investors (50%) 3i (35%) Hermes Investment Management (15%)
Subsidiaries	Scandlines Deutschland, Scandlines Danmark
Website	Official website

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

History

Routes

In 1903, the first railway ferry sailed between Gedser in Denmark and Warnemünde in Germany, where DSB operated the route from 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, which was, in turn, rebranded 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, owned by the Danish Ministry of Transport and Deutsche Bahn.^[1]

Scandlines was privatised in 2007 with 3i and Allianz Capital owning 40% each and Deutsche Seereederei 20%.^[3] In 2010 Deutsche Seereederei sold its shareholding to 3i and Allianz. In 2013 Allianz sold its 49% to 3i.^[4][5] In 2018 First Sentier Investors and Hermes Investment Management acquired 50% and 15% shareholdings.^[6]

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

Scandlines operates two routes; Gedser to Rostock and Rødby to Puttgarden. Scandlines expects to continue operating on the Rødby–Puttgarden route despite the planned completion of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel in 2029.^[7]

Ferries

Scandlines has six hybrid ferries and one freight ferry. In 2022, two ferries had a rotor sail mounted.^[8]

Scandlines' ferries on Rødby-Puttgarden:

Name	Built	Tonnage	Passengers	Notes	Images
Prins Richard	1997	14.621	1140	Hybrid
Prinsesse Benedicte	1997	14.621	1140	Hybrid
Schleswig-Holstein	1997	15.187	1200	Hybrid
Deutschland	1997	15.187	1200	Hybrid

Scandlines' ferries on Gedser-Rostock:

Name	Built	Tonnage	Passengers	Notes	Images
Berlin	2012	22.319	1.300	Hybrid and rotor sail	Berlin before rotor sail
Copenhagen	2012	22.319	1.300	Hybrid and rotor sail

Freight ferry

Name	Built	Tonnage	Passengers	Notes	Images
Kronprins Frederik	1981	16.071	1400	Freight & Replacement
Futura	2024	TBD	140	E-Ferry Freight	[9][10][11]

In November 2021, it was announced that the company has ordered a battery-electric ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route from Cemre Shipyard. The new vessel is due to enter service in 2024 and will have two-deck loading alongside a freight capacity of 66 HGVs, or some 1200 lane metres.^[12]

Harbours

Scandlines owns the harbours areas in Rødby, Gedser and Puttgarden and leases an area in the harbour of Rostock.^[13]