The Fynshav-Bøjden route has been reinforced with a second ferry every year since 2009, ultimately - since 2015 - with the 1984-built FRIGG SYDFYEN seasonally joining the route's main vessel, the 1998-built FYNSHAV. Usually the two-ship service lasts from the beginning of June until mid-September (calendar week 38). This year, however, Fynshav-Bøjden is going to face an early return to the one-ship off-season pattern: As Molslinjen A/S communicated, Wednesday, 7 August, is going to be the last day with two ships in service. As of 8 August, the FYNSHAV will be withdrawn from operation and laid up while only the smaller FRIGG SYDFYEN remains in service. The number of daily roundtrips will be cut from 12 to eight. Additionally, capacity constraints are going to be felt as the FRIGG SYDFYEN is considerably smaller than the FYNSHAV, taking just 50 cars (rather than 90) and 338 passengers (rather than 591).

The reason for the withdrawal of FYNSHAV is preparation work for Alslinjen's new electric ferry, NERTHUS, which is expected to be inaugurated at the end of this year. NERTHUS is going to use the berth currently tailored to the FYNSHAV, while the differently shaped FRIGG SYDFYEN is using a separate (and elder) berth in both ports. The adaptation of the ports of Fynshav and Bøjden has already been underway for the past five months; it started on 4 March. Munck Havne & Anlæg is the contracting company that won the complicated task of adapting both ports - which date back from the 1960s - to the requirements of NERTHUS. The newbuilding will be considerably larger than the two existing ferries, having an overall length of 116.8 metres against approximately 70 metres in the case of FYNSHAV and FRIGG SYDFYEN.

The withdrawal of FYNSHAV at the evening of 7 August will put a definitive end to the two-ship operation between Fynshav and Bøjden. After the route was launched in May 1967, its then mainstay vessel, DSB's 1964-built FYNSHAV, used to be supported seasonally by the 1930-built HEIMDAL. This scheme came to a close in June 1975, right after the FYNSHAV had been lengthened. From then on, Fynshav-Bøjden turned into single-ship service for more than 30 years - until Nordic Ferry Services A/S, the operator at the time, inaugurated a second vessel again in June 2009, responding to growing demand and a respective requirement in the new concession agreement. From 2009 until 2011, the 1972-built SPODSBJERG operated as Fynshav-Bøjden's replacement and peak traffic ferry, followed from 2012 until 2014 by the ODIN SYDFYEN. In 2015, the FRIGG SYDFYEN was 'downgraded' from the operation's regular vessel to the support role as the current FYNSHAV arrived, following her withdrawal from the previous Kolby Kås - Kalundborg operation. Since then, FYNSHAV used to make eight and FRIGG SYDFYEN four daily roundtrips from June to September.

In the future, the NERTHUS will be the only ferry linking Fyn Island with Fynshav on Als - a second seasonal vessel will no longer be required, given the massive capacity surge implemented by the new ship (NERTHUS is going to carry 188 cars, equivalent to more than twice the capacity of FYNSHAV). Additionally, the new ship is expected to cut the crossing time between Fynshav and Bøjden, sailing with a speed of 15.5 rather than 13.5 knots - and not having to turn, owing to the double-end design. Accordingly, the single electric ferry will be able to make more daily crossings than each of the current diesel-driven vessels. Alslinjen's new schedule, however, has not been communicated yet.  

NERTHUS was launched in April this year https://www.shippax.com/en/news/the-electric-ferry-nerthus-for-alslinjen-launched.aspx

© Shippax / Frederik Erdmann

FYNSHAV © Uwe Jakob