Lauwersoog, 14 November 2025 – Today, the keel was laid for the new fast ferry Inselexpress 3 at the Next Generation Shipyards shipyard in Lauwersoog. This traditional ceremony marked the official start of construction of the latest vessel for AG Reederei Norden-Frisia, which will further strengthen the connection to the islands of Juist and Nordeney.
During the ceremony, the ship’s registration number was hand-stamped into the keel. ‘A keel laying remains a special moment,’ says Dirk Keizer, director of Next Generation Shipyards. ‘We are proud that Frisia has once again chosen our shipyard after the successful construction of the Inselexpress 2.’
Modern sister ship with high flexibility
The Inselexpress 3 is being built as a sister ship to the Inselexpress 2 and will also accommodate 54 passengers. Thanks to its shallow draught of only 0.7 metres, the ship will also be able to serve tide-dependent islands such as Juist even more frequently. The ferry will be equipped with two Volvo Penta D8 IMO Tier III engines, Hamilton water jets and advanced exhaust gas aftertreatment. It will primarily operate between Norddeich and Juist, with flexible options for Norderney.
According to Rainer Sürken, Product Manager Inselexpress at Frisia, the expansion perfectly meets the growing demand for fast connections: ‘Our customers appreciate the shorter travel times and flexibility of the express services. The Inselexpress 3 further strengthens this offering.’
Inselexpress captain Jan-Lukas Schwarz also emphasises the significance for the islands: ‘With the new ship, we are once again improving transport between the island and the mainland. This is an important step towards a reliable island connection.’
Deepening cooperation
For Frisia, the expansion of the Inselexpress fleet is a logical step. Frisia board member Carl-Ulfert Stegmann: ‘The island service is one of our core tasks. With the Inselexpress 3, we are continuing to invest in a modern, fast and sustainable connection for residents, travellers and businesses.’
Next Generation Shipyards is looking forward to the continuation of the construction process. ‘We greatly appreciate Frisia’s confidence in our shipyard,’ says Keizer. ‘We are doing everything we can to deliver this ship on time and in the quality you have come to expect.’
The Inselexpress 3 is scheduled to enter service in the 2026 season.
