Wasserbillig ferry goes electric

An electric ferry will next year replace the current diesel version carrying cars and pedestrians across the Moselle in Wasserbillig, Wort.lu reports.

According to Luxembourg Secretary of State for Sustainable Development Camille Gira, The 50-year-old Sankta Maria will be decommissioned because of her age and maintenance costs.

She will be replaced by a 1.5 million euro electric ferry, to enter into operation in autumn 2017.

The costs of the new boat will be jointly shared by the communes of Oberbillig in Germany and Mertert-Wasserbillig in Luxembourg.

Every year the ferry conveys around 143,000 people, 65,800 cars 1,600 two-wheeled motorised vehicles and 19,500 bikes. The new boat will save the communes 14,000 litres of iesel per year as well as reducing the noise and air pollution caused by the boat. Furthermore, the replacement ferry will have greater capacity for vehicles.

A ferry service between the two villages has existed since the Middle Ages.