Estonian builder Baltic Workboats has delivered the second in a series of 30-metre hybrid electric Ro-Pax ferries ordered from the company by Germany's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes; WSV).
The 30-metre-long Alster has capacity for 10 cars or 45 tonnes of cargo. It is equipped with Voith Schneider propellers, Corvus Energy batteries, and a Stemmann fully automatic shore charging system, while Siemens integrated all onboard electrical connections.
Although designed with hybrid propulsion, the ferry is capable of fully electric operation.
Alster's sister Arlau was handed over in July of this year. The third ferry in the series is scheduled for delivery in October.
The three new ferries will replace some of the vessels that have been in operation on the Kiel Canal for nearly 70 years.