The ships of the W.D.R.

Our current fleet

Catamaran Rüm Hart

The challenge was to design a relatively small passenger ship with a shallow draught in such a way that it could also reach a service speed of 16 knots against the current. The "RÜM HART" was designed by the Groningen-based engineering firm Conoship International BV. It was realised and completed at the Dutch shipyard Thecla Bodewes Shipyards in Harlingen. The entire design of the "RÜM HART" is customised for use in the Wadden Sea - and not just for summer excursions, but all year round. The spacious, bright saloon, which also has a small galley, can accommodate 150 passengers. A further 100 guests can sit on deck in summer. Three crew members are needed to operate the ship, which is barrier-free and therefore ideal for guests with limited mobility. The ship has been sailing between Dagebüll, Föhr, Amrum and the Halligen islands since May 2019 for our long-standing cooperation partner, the Adler-Schiffe shipping company, under the charter name "Adler Rüm Hart".

The Rüm Hart catamaran was christened in 2019 as part of a festive ceremony. We have captured the event on film for all those who were unfortunately unable to be there live or would like to reminisce.

Have fun watching it!

MS Norderaue

With the MS Norderaue, a completely new ship name - and another innovative ship - arrived at W.D.R. at the end of April 2018. In terms of its design, the Norderaue is largely based on its two older sisters, the MS Schleswig-Holstein and MS Uthlande - with one key difference: thanks to a different vehicle deck layout, the latest W.D.R. ferry can carry lorries on four lanes side by side for the first time in the shipping company's history. This creates additional capacity for island supply, especially in the early hours of the morning.
The Norderaue, which was built at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, also differs from the two other double-ended ferries on the Föhr-Amrum line in a number of other details: the toilets are located on the sun deck, the saloon deck has a slightly different design and the furniture has been improved. However, the external dimensions, the propulsion system with four Voith-Schneider propellers, the excellent manoeuvring characteristics and the service speed of 12 knots have remained the same. And like its two predecessors, the Norderaue runs on environmentally friendly marine gas oil. Her design fulfils the requirements of the RAL-UZ 141 "Environmentally friendly ship design" standard.
The name of the ship is a tribute to the mudflats that the W.D.R. ships pass every day on the Föhr-Amrum line. It is the first time that a W.D.R. ferry has been named Norderaue. And according to W.D.R. research, it is even the first time ever that a German merchant ship has been given this name... (a Süderaue - a specialised ship for hydraulic engineering based in Kiel - already exists).

Come on board: 360° tour on the MS Norderaue

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MS Schleswig-Holstein

The MS Schleswig-Holstein is already the fourth under this traditional name. The experience gained from 125 years of ferry services in the North Frisian Wadden Sea has been channelled into the development of the Schleswig-Holstein - making the ferry perfectly adapted to operating in this special sailing area. As a double-ended ferry, the Schleswig-Holstein, like the previously completed Uthlande, does not have to turn round in shuttle traffic.

Four efficient Voith-Schneider propellers make the ship extremely manoeuvrable even under difficult conditions. The spacious vehicle deck and side entrances make the Schleswig-Holstein very accessible for both motorists and pedestrians and all passenger facilities offer maximum comfort. The Schleswig-Holstein was completed in 2011 at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, has a service speed of 12 knots and a draught of just 1.70 metres. Her carrying capacity and car capacity are 40% higher than those of her predecessor.

wdr_unternehmen_unsere-schiffe_MS-Schleswig-Holstein

MS Uthlande

The MS Uthlande was the first of three new double-ended ferries to enter service in 2010 and attracted a great deal of attention not only in its sailing area, but also in the shipping world. The ship has a capacity of up to 1,200 passengers and around 75 vehicles and, unlike previous W.D.R. ferries, no longer has to turn around in the harbours. The modern propulsion system with four Voith-Schneider propellers and the shallow draught make the Uthlande extremely manoeuvrable.

In 2011, the sophisticated ship concept was honoured with the "Ship Pax Award", one of the world's most coveted awards for passenger ships. This award particularly emphasised the bright and inviting interior of the passenger saloon, which is based on the standards of international long-distance ferries. The Uthlande is the fourth ship of this name at W.D.R. and was built at the Sietas shipyard in Hamburg-Neuenfelde.

MS Nordfriesland

In addition to the three double-ended ferries "Norderaue", "Schleswig-Holstein" and "Uthlande", the MS Nordfriesland ferry operates on the Dagebüll-Föhr-Amrum route. This somewhat smaller ship also offers maximum comfort and Frisian hospitality on board.

MS Hilligenlei

The Hilligenlei, W.D.R.'s smallest ferry, operates between Schlüttsiel, Hooge and Langeneß. The atmosphere on board is a little more informal than on the larger sister ships - but no less comfortable.

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360° tour on the

MS "Norderaue"

Our ship database

Here you can see which ships have sailed for W.D.R. in our long company history.

Steamer Nordfriesland 1

Year of construction	1885
Shipyard	Georg Howaldt Kiel (No. 141)
GRT	54
Passengers	k. A.
PASSENGER CAR	none
length	22,95 m
width	4,27 m
Draught	1,28 m
Engine	compound steam engine
Power output	60 PSi
Speed	9 knots