The city of Kiel in Germany recently welcomed the first in a series of three new hybrid electric Ro-Pax ferries that will be operated by the country's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes; WSV).
Built by Baltic Workboats of Estonia, the 30-metre-long Arlau has a 24-metre deck capable of accommodating up to 45 tonnes of assorted vehicles and other freight. It also has a hybrid electric propulsion arrangement wherein the electric motors can draw power from either diesel generators or batteries supplied by Corvus Energy.
The ferry is currently undergoing test sailings in the Kiel Canal. Operational sailings by WSV will commence before the end of July.
Arlau and its sisters will replace some of the canal's current ferries that have been in operation for nearly 70 years.
