Scandlines and the Ships on the Route
Scandlines runs the Rostock-Gedser crossing with two hybrid ferries built for this route alone. Here are the company, the ships M/S Berlin and M/S Copenhagen, and what you find on board.
The ferry company and its ships
Table of Contents
The Rostock-Gedser route belongs to Scandlines. The company runs two connections between Germany and Denmark - Rostock-Gedser across the Baltic and Puttgarden-Rødby across the Fehmarn Belt - with a fleet of six hybrid ferries. It was formed in 1998 by merging the German Deutsche Fährgesellschaft Ostsee with the Danish DSB Rederi; the head office is in Hamburg and the owner is a consortium of three infrastructure funds: Igneo Infrastructure Partners, 3i Group and Federated Hermes.
For you as a traveller, one thing follows from that: there is only one operator on this crossing. The question is never which company, but which departure and which fare.
M/S Berlin and M/S Copenhagen
Both ships were built for this crossing, are identical sisters and have been in service since 2016. Their hulls are shaped for the shallow water of the route, which saves further fuel. They are registered in Rostock and in Gedser - one home port on each side.
| Data sheet | M/S Berlin · M/S Copenhagen |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2016 |
| Length overall | 169.50 m |
| Breadth overall | 25.40 m |
| Service speed | 21.0 knots |
| Passengers | max. 1,300 |
| Vehicle decks | deck 3 and deck 5, 800 lane metres each |
| Capacity per deck | 48 trucks or 230 cars |
| Clearance | 4.60 m (deck 3), 4.20 m (deck 5) |
| Rotor sail | 30 m tall, Copenhagen since 2020, Berlin since 2022 |
Figures from the operator's data sheet, as at May 2022.
Their build history explains the six years between keel laying and service entry: ordered in 2010 from the P+S shipyards in Stralsund, launched in 2012, then cancelled by Scandlines over construction faults and excess weight. The company bought the hulls back out of insolvency in 2014 and had them completed at the Fayard yard in Munkebo, Denmark. Both entered service in 2016.
Hybrid propulsion and rotor sail
Both ferries run diesel-electric with battery support. Instead of leaving every generator in an inefficient part-load band, a few generators work close to their sweet spot while the energy storage on board absorbs the peaks. The storage package holds 1,500 kilowatt hours according to the data sheet.
Then there is the feature you spot from the terminal: the white cylinder on the top deck. The rotor sail by Finnish maker Norsepower stands 30 metres tall and uses the Magnus effect - a cylinder spinning in the wind produces thrust at right angles to it. This route suits the technology particularly well, because Rostock-Gedser runs almost perpendicular to the prevailing westerly and easterly winds. Scandlines puts the saving at four per cent of CO₂ on average. Copenhagen got its rotor in 2020, Berlin in 2022.
On board
Two hours is long enough for a proper meal and short enough that nobody needs a cabin - there are no cabins on this route.
- Scandlines Kitchen Buffet - breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, open from 6:00 to 20:00.
- Scandlines Food Express - cafeteria with fish fillet, sandwiches, hot dogs and fries, around the clock.
- Scandlines Coffee - coffee, snacks and Starbucks products.
- Travel Shop - perfume, cosmetics, sweets and drinks, also open around the clock.
- Free Wi-Fi - on every ship on the route and in the waiting areas of both ports.
There is a play area for children on the passenger deck, and separate rules apply to dogs and cats - those are on the Travelling with Pets page. If you travel with a wheelchair or reduced mobility, state it when booking, use the staffed yellow lane and aim to be at the port around 30 minutes before departure; the parking bays near the lift are limited.
The food and drink options and opening hours were checked on 10 August 2026 against the Scandlines page on food and drink on Rostock-Gedser. Follow the information on board for your departure.
Ports and who runs them
The port facilities in Gedser belong to the company itself, while in Rostock it is a tenant in the Überseehafen. You barely notice the difference - except that one of the two BorderShops sits right by the terminal in Rostock. How to reach the terminals is covered on the Rostock Port & Ferry Terminal and Gedser Port & Ferry Terminal pages; the process at the desk is described on the check-in page.
The full crossing, with links to the timetable and fares, is covered on the Rostock-Gedser ferry page.
FAQ
Common questions about the company and the ships
Which ships sail the Rostock-Gedser route?+
The two hybrid ferries M/S Berlin and M/S Copenhagen. They are sister ships, entered service in 2016 and run on this route only. Which ship takes your departure is shown in the timetable.
How tall can my motorhome be?+
According to the operator's data sheet, clearance is 4.60 metres on the lower vehicle deck and 4.20 metres on the upper one. Oversized vehicles are declared when booking; how check-in handles them is covered on the check-in page.
What is a rotor sail?+
A 30-metre rotating cylinder on deck. Wind hitting the spinning cylinder creates a force at right angles to the wind that helps drive the ship. Scandlines puts the saving at four per cent of CO₂ on average.
Is there Wi-Fi on board?+
Yes. Wi-Fi is free on every ferry between Rostock and Gedser and in the waiting areas of both ports. Pick the "Scandlines" network and accept the terms in your browser.
Can I pay by card on board?+
The restaurants, the coffee bar and the Travel Shop are cashless. As you cross between two currency areas anyway, a card is the simplest option.
What does the crossing cost?+
That depends on your vehicle, the ticket type and how early you book. Every fare is listed on the Prices & Fares page.
Book your crossing with Scandlines
Reserve your ticket now for the Rostock-Gedser ferry connection.