The series of breakdowns of the new electric ferry Missunde III on the Schlei continues unabated. Shortly before the planned launch tomorrow, 1 April, the Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation announced yesterday (30 March) that the interaction between the ferry and the jetties was not yet working reliably. Test runs last week had shown that improvements to the so-called landing wedges were necessary, especially when the ferry was loaded. The mooring achieved good results in ideal weather conditions and with an unloaded ferry. However, problems were encountered with a load of around 40 tonnes. The LKN is working on minimising the time window for the interruption of the ferry service. The state has not yet announced a new start date. The ferry service between Brodersby and Kosel has already been suspended since 4 March 2026. The delay is one in a series of problems surrounding the project.
The chronology of the ferry fiasco on the Schlei:
The chronicle of the ferry debacle on the Schlei
There had already been several delays in the past. During the first test runs, it became apparent that the Missunde III could not dock safely even at moderate wind speeds. As a result, the state commissioned extensive conversion work. According to the LKN, the converted electric ferry was fitted with four additional transverse thrusters. The battery capacity was also increased. The conversion costs totalled 1.3 million euros. In January, the state assured that it had discussed the conversion measures with external engineers and had found the right solutions. Now, however, LKN spokesman Wolf Paarmann explained in a statement: "The measures we have carried out on the ferry have been successful. But the interaction with the berths is not yet working as desired."
Investors need to be retrofitted
According to the LKN, the jetties need to be adapted as the new ferry is larger than the diesel-powered Missunde II. The new Schlei ferry is quieter, emission-free and significantly larger than its predecessor, which was put into service in 2003. For the first time, coaches and agricultural vehicles will also be able to cross the Schlei. Around 120,000 vehicles and around 50,000 bicycles are ferried between Brodersby and Kosel every year. The ferry connection is of great importance for the region. The operator of the marina in Brodersby, Christian Janik, has already announced his intention to take legal action against the state. The delays would have a catastrophic impact on tourism, especially now at Easter.
Old ferry bought back
The 23-year-old, diesel-powered Missunde II had to be used as an emergency solution. However, the ferry had already been sold to Denmark by the Schleswig-Holstein state enterprise for 17,000 euros. In the April 2024 Schleswig-Holstein was forced to buy back the dilapidated ferry for 50,000 euros - almost three times the sale price. In the September 2024 the Dane received a further 50,000 euros from the state of Schleswig-Holstein for the right of first refusal. Janik is also a member of the Missunde ferry interest group. He demands: "Our demand is that Missunde II is put back into service next week, because it is the only ferry that is ready for operation." The total project costs now amount to more than 6.5 million euros.
Costs more than doubled
In 2021, 2.5 million euros were still planned. According to the state, the conversion costs for the new ferry amount to a good 1.3 million euros. These would be covered by reserves of the state enterprise. According to LKN, a legal investigation is currently underway to determine whether LKN or the design office at the time is responsible for the design errors. The Missunde III was originally due to have been in operation since January 2024. During the test runs at the time, it turned out that the high-tech ferry, which cost 3.3 million euros, began to lurch in winds of more than three Beaufort and could no longer dock safely. For this reason, the decision was made to retrofit it. The question of what to do with the 120,000 cars and 50,000 passengers who use the ferry service every year remained unanswered for a long time.
Test drives in ideal conditions
The expensive electric solar ship had been sailing on the Schlei for test purposes since 23 March 2026. The mooring achieved good results in ideal weather conditions and with an unloaded ferry, according to the LKN. However, with a load of around 40 tonnes, it became apparent that the jetties need to be retrofitted. The LKN is currently unable to give a binding start date, but is working hard to minimise the time window for the interruption of the ferry service. The delay means a further burden for the region. The frustration among the population runs deep. Many questions remain unanswered as to how the ferry service will continue.
Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel
