World’s largest high-speed ferry is the second quantum leap on Bornholm’s lifeline

EXPRESS 5 pushes the global development of high-speed ferries and takes
over from LEONORA CHRISTINA as a bigger, better – and more comfortable
lifeline for the islanders

The term “world’s largest” must always be used with some caution and should be verified with a more detailed definition. On Saturday 29 April, Molslinjen deployed the newly built high-speed ferry EXPRESS 5 on the main corridor of Bornholmslinjen. That is between Rønne and Ystad in the state-subsidised ferry service of Bornholm.

Read more here: The Islander’s new main-ferry max out for more capacity

In that regard, it is difficult to avoid the fact that EXPRESS 5 is the world’s largest high-speed ferry right now, which is understandably also highlighted extensively by the shipping company’s and the press’s coverage of the newbuilding. The more detailed definition that permits the sensational use of words is that EXPRESS 5 is the world’s largest operational catamaran high-speed ferry measured in terms of number of cars and passengers.

There are examples in history of other ferries, built according to the High-Speed Code, which e.g., has been able to accommodate more passengers than EXPRESS 5. However, there were single-hull vessels, more often referred to as mono hulls.

Fixed link created new corridor

Since the start of the new millennium, the Rønne – Ystad route has developed into the main corridor for the state-subsidised ferry service of Bornholm. At the same time, most of the car and passenger volume has moved from conventional ferries to high-speed ferry-based capacity.

This was primarily due to the opening of the Øresund Bridge, which enabled a short transit time between Bornholm and the rest of Denmark via Ystad in Southern Sweden.

This has also meant that the route has helped drive high-speed ferry development globally. It is
consequently not the first time that Bornholm’s high-speed ferries have pushed the evolution in this tonnage segment, which only dates to the beginning of the 1990s.

Echo of the locale debate

When the purpose-built highspeed ferry LEONORA CHRISTINA was deployed on the route in 2011, it was done to strengthen capacity and increase the regularity of the route, which had previously been operated with the much smaller non-purpose built VILLUM CLAUSEN, deployed in 2000.

At the time, in particular two subjects were present in the public debate on Bornholm about the island’s lifeline route; The ability to sail in the sometimes-difficult waters of the Baltic Sea – and access to sufficient capacity. Both topics later also played a major role in the process which led up to Molslinjen’s contracting of EXPRESS 5 in 2019.

When Molslinjen took over the concession from the previous operator, the purpose-built main ferry on the Ystad route LEONORA CHRISTINA was replaced by EXPRESS 1, which, as an Incat-built catamaran, is based on slightly different design principles than the Austal-built LEONORA CHRISTINA.

Read about Bornholm’s new nightferry: Bornholm’s new night ferry in a dual role

It revived the debate on Bornholm about the comfort characteristics of the routes main ferry when the Baltic Sea shows its teeth, and Molslinjen also had to make certain changes to EXPRESS 1 to improve its characteristics in rough seas.

A second quantum leap

Parallel to that, the traffic development to and from Bornholm has been favourable, which is why the introduction of EXPRESS 5, 12 years after the introduction of LEONORA CHRISTINA, represents the second major quantum leap on Bornholm’s still young main corridor to the Danish mainland via Southern Sweden.

Just as LEONORA CHRISTINA was, EXPRESS 5 is purpose-built based on the wishes and needs of the people of Bornholm. In an additional contract with the Danish State, EXPRESS 5 will also have EXPRESS 1 as a backup instead of the smaller previous back up-ferry MAX.

EXPRESS 1 is now described in the contract as a so-called high-capacity ferry, something that brings the potential capacity of Bornholm’s main ferry corridor to extraordinary heights. The 1998-built 92-meter Incat catamaran MAX is now deployed as the fourth high speed-ferry on Kattegat, mainly serving the Ebeltoft – Sjællands Odden route.

FACTS

LEONORA CHRISTINA: 112.6 X 26.2 m – 1,400 passengers and 357 cars – 36,400 kW of propulsion

EXPRESS 1: 112.6 X 30.5 m – 1,200 passengers and 417 cars – 36,000 kW of propulsion

EXPRESS 5: 115.4 X 30.5 m – 1,625 passengers and 450 cars – 39,040 kW of propulsion

(Main ferry defined as a larger fast ferry supported by a smaller fast ferry)