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Ferry operator Scandlines has received the Shippax Award for its new hybrid ferry M/V Berlin.

The M/V Berlin began operating on the Rostock-Gedser route between Germany and Denmark in December 2016 - approximately seven months after its sister vessel, the M/V Copenhagen.

During development, Scandlines says it paid particular attention to optimising the hull and propulsion on the new vessels to improve the shallow water performance, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency.

The two new vessels, said to be the world's largest hybrid ferries, are operated by a hybrid propulsion system, combining traditional diesel power with electric battery power. This is designed to enable each vessel to optimise fuel consumption by adjusting its engine output, and at the same time there is a redundant power supply in case one of the diesel engines stops unintentionally. Along with other optimising initiatives, Scandlines says the fuel consumption of the vessels has been reduced to almost one third per crossing per car compared to the ferries previously operating on the route.

The new ferries were originally fitted with a combined diesel-mechanic and diesel-electric propulsion system. As part of the completion process at the Danish shipyard Fayard A/S, a battery bank was installed so that the vessels were able to operate as hybrid ferries.

Following the delivery of both vessels, technical installations were completed during a planned yard stay earlier this year which involved rebuilding the common rail injection system of the M/V Berlin's and M/V Copenhagen's engines.

Both new vessels have also been fitted with an exhaust gas cleaning system. The system is said to clean at least 90 percent of the sulphur and particulate matter out of the exhaust gas, thereby emitting water vapour from the funnel of the ferry.

The Shippax Award was given to Scandlines at the 15th Ferry Shipping Conference, which this year took place aboard Grandi Navi Veloci's La Superba, between 5th and 7th April. An independent jury consisting of dedicated shipping experts appointed the winner.

Scandlines previously won the award in 2014 for the conversion of the ferry Prinsesse Benedikte from traditional diesel power to a hybrid propulsion system.

In a statement, Morten Haure-Petersen, CCO at Scandlines, said: "Scandlines is proud that this internationally acclaimed organisation has chosen to assign M/V Berlin the prestigious award. The jury particularly emphasised our choice of hybrid propulsion system, Berlin's optimised hull and the unique and modern design of the passenger areas."