Electrification of Hamburg’s ferry fleet
Actemium has delivered a new high-power charging infrastructure for Hadag’s ferry terminal in St. Pauli, Hamburg.
Germany’s Port of Hamburg recently reached a new milestone in the decarbonisation of its maritime transport. To support the transition of transport company Hadag’s ferries to hybrid and ultimately 100% electric engines, new high-power charging infrastructure has been installed at its terminal in St. Pauli.
Actemium was appointed as the main contractor for the design and implementation of the project. Its teams mobilised to address major technical challenges in a port environment, facing obstacles including tides, storms and normal daily port operations, alongside two key partners: the Vahle group, specialists in energy and data transmission systems; and the construction firm AUG.PRIEN.
The installation architecture incorporates a medium-voltage grid connection station and a low-voltage container equipped with a 4 MW transformer and a dedicated water-cooling system specially designed to meet the energy needs of the future network of electric ferries. Capable of delivering up to 6,300 A, this infrastructure was sized to accommodate the gradual electrification of a fleet of up to 10 vessels. AUG.PRIEN supplied the elevated metal structure designed to protect the medium-voltage substation against flooding.
In addition to the power supply, Actemium installed the fully integrated control and communication systems. Its teams fitted almost a kilometre of cable trays on a 200-metre floating platform, installed monitoring equipment, and developed all the automation systems for high-safety management of charging operations.
One of the project highlights was the implementation of the Vahle Stinger system, which comprises mobile trolleys travelling on conductor rails, which supply power to the ferries while they are berthed, wherever along the dockside they are moored.
Based on Vahle’s Stinger technology, the solution was integrated into the overall charging infrastructure by Actemium, providing both operational flexibility and optimal safety.
Following testing and commissioning, Hadag’s first hybrid ferries will be able to recharge directly at St. Pauli, thus reducing emissions from river and maritime transport in the Port of Hamburg and paving the way for a future fully electric ferry fleet.