• The third Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei double-ended ferry is equipped with four Voith Schneider propellers 
• High propulsion power and maneuverability in shallow water
• Reliable transport of passengers and vehicles on the Föhr-Amrum route

Following the official christening ceremony of the “Norderaue” on 6 June 2018, W.D.R has launched its third double-ended ferry. The new build will be a welcome addition to the fleet of the long-established shipping company on the highly frequented Föhr-Amrum route. Like the two sister vessels “Uthlande” and “Schleswig-Holstein”, four VSPs will drive the ferry. With an input power of 470 kilowatts in each propeller, the “Norderaue” can travel at a maximum speed of 12 knots, a speed that is rarely needed for scheduled services. These power reserves enable the operator to optimize fuel consumption and minimize emissions. They also allow to compensate delays and unfavorable weather conditions.

With a length of 75 meters and a maximum width of 16.40 meters the “Norderaue” is a large ship and needs the appropriate propulsive power. After all, it is designed to transport cars on more than 350 lane meters and trucks on 280 lane meters, as well as up to 1,200 passengers, to and from ferry ports. Due to the shallow waterway however ships using the Wadden Sea require a low draft. The new W.D.R vessel has a draft of just 1,908 meters. To achieve this low value, despite the size of the vessel, the blades of the VSPs used are slightly shorter than the standard version. In order to deliver a high amount of power into the water, a total of four VSPs are installed. Two of the proven drive systems, type 16R5 EC/100-1, are integrated on each end of the vessel built at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock. These systems increase the vessel´s reliability, which is already particularly high due to the ruggedness of the VSPs. As a result, the vessel can be maneuvered with ease even in the shallow waters of the ferry ports Dagebüll, Wyk or Wittdün. This design concept enables the “Norderaue” to operate efficiently in the shallows of the Wadden Sea.

Due to the symmetrical design of the vessel time consuming turning manouvres are unnecessary which also reduces fuel consumption. Like its two sister ships, the vessel also has the “Blue Angel” certification for environmentally friendly ship design and operation.

About the company
Voith Turbo, a Group Division of Voith GmbH, is a specialist in intelligent drive solutions and systems and pioneering services. Customers from a diverse range of industries such as oil and gas, energy, mining and mechanical engineering, ship technology, rail and commercial vehicles rely on cutting-edge technology from Voith Turbo.

Voith is a global technology group. With its wide range of plants, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets for energy, oil and gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith today has more than 19,000 employees and earns 4.2 billion euros in sales. It has locations in over 60 countries and is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.