Elbe ferry Cuxhaven-Brunsbüttel: Captain asks politics to act!

Elbe ferry Cuxhaven-Brunsbüttel: Captain asks politics to act!

Cuxhaven, Deutschland - A storm of indignation brews over the Elbe! Since the traditional ferry connection between Cuxhaven and Brunsbüttel at the end of 2021, it has become silent - but that could change! A recently published feasibility study has rejected hope of a new Elbe ferry. This study shows that an economically sustainable ferry operation is possible. But politics remains idle, and that ensures massive frustration!

The captain Lutz Volkmann, chairman of the Elbe ferry Greenferry e. V., raises severe allegations against local politics. In an open letter he makes it clear: "Nothing happens, although the ferry connection in the coalition agreement is firmly anchored!" The citizens of Cuxhaven feel abandoned. Mayor Uwe Santjer had made great promises in summer, but now only the bitter aftertaste of "lip service" remains. Volkmann asks provocatively: "Do you want to hug the citizens?"

politics or standstill?

The city of Cuxhaven tries to smooth the waves. A spokesman emphasizes that the feasibility study was only presented in the committee a few days ago and therefore there was no delay in time. But the citizens are eagerly waiting for deeds! Thorsten Krüger, district administrator of the district of Cuxhaven, sees the urgency of the project: "We have to combine the potential of both pages for a dynamic development!" But the hurdles are high: investments between 30 and 50 million euros and increasing fuel prices are in the room.

The feasibility study also shows that environmentally friendly drive technologies are necessary to make the ferry connection sustainable. While organic diesel is named as the cheapest option, the question remains whether this does justice to the CO₂ goals. Hydrogen could be a solution, but the technology is expensive and not yet ready for the market. Volkmann calls for more commitment from local politics and has already contacted the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Berlin. "We hope that local politics show the same commitment," he calls around. Time is pushing and the citizens of Cuxhaven finally want to see acts!