Lauwersoog, 23 September 2025 – Reederei Frisia has placed a newbuilding order with Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog for the Inselexpress 3 (IE3). This vessel will be an identical sister ship to the previously delivered IE2, which has been successfully transporting passengers between Norddeich and the Wadden Sea islands of Juist and Norderney since May of this year.
The order follows the positive experience with the IE2, which was developed to provide fast and reliable connections between the mainland and the tide-dependent islands in the German Wadden Sea region.
Like its predecessor, the IE3 will be a lightweight aluminium catamaran with a capacity of 54 passengers. Thanks to its shallow draft and modern waterjet propulsion, the vessel is optimally suited for routes with limited water depth.
Technical specifications of IE3:
- Length: 20.32 metres
- Beam: 6.01 metres
- Draft: 0.75 metres
- Speed: 16 knots
- Engines: 2x Volvo Penta D8 with exhaust aftertreatment
- Propulsion: 2x Hamilton LTX 36 waterjets
- Classification: Bureau Veritas
Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2026, ensuring that the IE3 will be operational in time for the summer timetable. The ferry will primarily operate on the Norddeich – Juist route but can be flexibly deployed on other routes within the Frisia network.
With this new order, Reederei Frisia reinforces its commitment to further modernising its fleet with efficient and future-proof vessels that meet the demands of modern island transport.
The IE3 will once again be built by Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog, which was also responsible for the construction of the IE2. The signing of this contract marks a continuation of the successful collaboration between Frisia and the shipyard in the province of Groningen.
