Prins-Richard Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On the afternoon of June 7, 2017, the Scandlines ferry 'Schleswig Holstein' resumed operations as the first vessel to return to service after a temporary suspension in ferry traffic between Germany, Denmark, and Sweden due to a potential bomb threat received via telephone. The ferry was operating without any passengers or vehicles onboard. Shortly after its departure, the ferry 'Deutschland' from Rødby made its arrival, while 'Berlin' in Gedser also commenced sailing again. Both the Puttgarden - Rødby and Rostock - Gedser routes experienced disruptions as a result of the incident. In Puttgarden, the ferries 'Kronprins Frederik,' designated for dangerous goods transport, and 'Prins Richard' were held in the port for exhaustive searches for any explosive materials. These searches were conducted throughout the afternoon after Danish police received credible information prompting the safety inspections at the ports of Rødby and Gedser. Passengers aboard ferries traveling between Rødby and Puttgarden on Fehmarn, as well as Gedser and Rostock, were calmly evacuated without incident. By late afternoon, the 'Copenhagen' was anchored in Rostock, while the 'Deutschland' remained docked at the quay in Rødby due to the ongoing safety measures. Both it and the 'Prinsesse Benedikte' were temporarily unable to depart. The water police in Travemünde formed a steering committee to evaluate the situation and coordinate actions with their Danish counterparts. As a result, ferry traffic in Puttgarden faced significant delays, leading to the cancellation of all rail services by evening. Long queues of vehicles, including cars and trucks, accumulated at the ferry terminal and surrounding parking lots, leading to a near-full occupancy at both locations.

On March 29, 2015, an oil spill incident occurred involving the ferry vessel 'Prins Richard' at the bustling port of Rødbyhavn. Following overnight maintenance operations, it was discovered in the morning that approximately 0.1 tons of hydraulic fuel had leaked into the surrounding waters. As a precautionary measure, the Rødby ferry port was temporarily shut down for 6 to 7 hours to facilitate cleanup efforts. Local environmental services from the Lolland municipality swiftly mobilized to manage the recovery and mitigate any potential damage to the marine ecosystem.

On December 25, 2014, a significant search and rescue (SAR) operation was initiated by the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) after a German passenger fell overboard from the ferry 'Prins Richard' while navigating north of Fehmarn Island. The SAR operation was extensive, involving multiple vessels and aerial support. Lifeboats 'Bremen' from the Fehmarn/Großenbrode station, 'Heiligenhafen' from Heiligenhafen, and the Danish lifeboat 'L. W. Dam' from Gedser participated in the mission. In addition, two ships from the Danish Navy, the police vessel 'Neustrelitz', and two helicopters from Denmark were deployed for the operation, all coordinated from the 'Bremen'. At the time of the incident, the 'Prins Richard' was making its journey from Puttgarden to Rødby, with water temperatures hovering between 6-8 degrees Celsius. After approximately 3.5 hours of searching, the operation transitioned into a formal investigation.