Discover the Prinsesse-Benedikte: Ratings & Maritime News

On June 7, 2017, the Scandlines ferry 'Schleswig Holstein' made a cautious return to service as the first vessel to resume operations after a significant disruption. Traffic across key crossings between Germany, Denmark, and Sweden had been temporarily halted following a bomb threat received via telephone. This first ferry re-entered service without passengers or vehicles on board. Shortly thereafter, the 'Deutschland' from Rødby docked at its destination. The 'Berlin' also resumed operations at Gedser. The modifications to service impacted both the Puttgarden-Rødby and Rostock-Gedser routes. At Puttgarden, ferries including 'Kronprins Frederik'—known for transporting hazardous materials—and 'Prins Richard' were held in port. Both vessels had already been unloaded and were subjected to thorough searches for explosives throughout the afternoon. Safety protocols were heightened as Danish police conducted precautionary checks on ferries situated at Rødby and Gedser after receiving credible information that necessitated this action. Passengers aboard ferries operating between Rødby and Puttgarden, as well as Gedser and Rostock, were quietly evacuated without incident. By late afternoon, the 'Copenhagen' was moored in Rostock, while the 'Deutschland' remained docked at Rødby due to safety measures. Further precautionary steps were taken by the Lübeck police and a steering committee formed by the water police in Travemünde, coordinating closely with Danish authorities. The widespread repercussions of the incident led to a near-complete cancelation of all rail connections by evening, resulting in significant congestion as cars and trucks queued at the ferry terminal. Many alternative parking lots became fully occupied due to the unexpected delays.

The ferry 'Prinsesse Benedikte' has been temporarily out of service in Rødbyhavn since October 19 due to essential repair and maintenance efforts. The vessel underwent significant upgrades, including the replacement of two heavy transformers, each weighing 11 tons. To facilitate this, extensive modifications were made, including the cutting of two large openings in the lower vehicle deck. Additionally, improvements were made in the customer area, featuring new checkout stations and updated flooring in the cafeteria. Scandlines anticipates that 'Prinsesse Benedikte' will resume operations by November, restoring its previous level of reliability. Sea trials were conducted on October 29 as part of the final testing before the ferry returns to service.

The ferry 'Prinsesse Benedikte' faced another setback as it dealt with engine problems that rendered it out of service for three days. The vessel was officially sidelined on July 12, 2023, at the port of Rødbyhavn after having to cancel several trips the night before. Following repairs, the 'Prinsesse Benedikte' successfully set sail again on July 15, 2023, at 7:15 p.m., resuming its route to Puttgarden. Additionally, on July 17, the 'Schleswig Holstein' is scheduled to be taken out of service as planned, while the 'Deutschland' will be operating at reduced capacity due to issues with a malfunctioning hanging deck. With these developments, only the 'Prins Richard' will maintain full operational capacity on the Rødbyhavn-Puttgarden route.