The "Missunde III" ferry between Brodersby and Kosel is back in service after a three-week enforced break for repairs. The ferry had previously been taken out of service after just one month of operation because both drive belts needed replacing.
After two years of teething problems, failed test runs, modifications and missing certificates, the new cable ferry was in service for less than a month in May:
Repairs following the breakdown have been completed
At the end of April, after years of delays, the new ferry had finally commenced operations. But then, of all times, both drive belts gave out during the busy Whitsun weekend, and the ferry’s operations were completely suspended – a total breakdown in the middle of the peak season. Three weeks later, the repairs are now complete. According to the LKN, the electric motor’s drive train has been realigned to minimise wear and tear in future. Cost: 60,000 euros. As of today (16 June), the “Missunde III” ferry is once again transporting vehicles and pedestrians between Brodersby-Goltoft and Missunde.
According to LKN, the break was used, alongside the repairs to the ferry, to remove the temporary measures at the jetties. When operations resumed in April, wedges had been weighted down with ten-tonne weights at the jetties. A permanent solution has now been installed.
Several incidents in just one month
In the mere four weeks following the launch – which had been postponed several times – there were several incidents. A loud bang, presumably of mechanical origin, led to an unscheduled stop of the cable ferry. In another incident, a car pulling up was damaged because the ferry came loose from its mooring and moved back a short distance. Furthermore, the new ferry takes longer to make the crossing than the old one, according to captain and operator Rüdiger Jöns. This means that, despite the higher load capacity, fewer cars can be transported overall.
A timeline of the ferry fiasco on the Schlei:
- April/May 2024: Petition launched to save the old sandbar ferry “Missunde II”
- July 2024: The new ferry will not enter service until winter 2025/26
- September 2024: €100,000 for the repurchase of the old ferry
- January 2025: €1.3 million for the refit of the "Missunde III"
- March 2026: Launch of Missunde III postponed again
- May 2026: Operations of the “Missunde III” suspended again shortly after launch
Claim for damages against the state
For tenant Rüdiger Jöns, the municipality of Brodersby-Goltoft and local businesses, this was the last straw following the cancellation. Together with local businesses – primarily from the catering and tourism sectors – marina operator Christian Jannik and Mayor Joschka Buhmannn prepared a class action claim for damages against the state of Schleswig-Holstein. “We have lost some customers who can no longer get their boats onto the ferry because the approach angle is so poor that they would get their rudders or light strips caught. They then go to the competition and launch their boats there.” So says Christian Jannik, operator of Brodersby Marina. According to Mayor Joschka Buhmann, private individuals – such as commuters who have suffered financial loss due to the ferry’s suspension – could also join the lawsuit.
Speaking to NDR, operator Jöns said he intended to continue running the ferry this summer and then assess the situation. He had previously cast doubt on the ferry’s viability on social media. A price increase of 50 cents per car is now planned for 1 July. Currently, the fare starts at three euros for a car with no additional passengers.
The certificate for the sand dredger is also still pending
The solar-powered ferry “Missunde III” has repeatedly made negative headlines over the past four years. It was actually due to be completed by autumn 2022. However, test runs revealed that major modifications were required. The old ferry, which had been sold in the meantime, had to be bought back by the state at a high price. After several years of delays and numerous breakdowns, the “Missunde III” was finally able to enter service at the end of April – albeit with restrictions, as a final certificate is still pending. Vehicles weighing over 7.5 tonnes are not yet permitted to use the service. In future, the ferry is also intended to carry vehicles weighing up to 25 tonnes across the Schlei.
Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel
