The hybrid ferry Maliina Ittuk will not be put into operation on 1 June as planned.

Disko Lines new hybrid ferry Maliina Ittuk solves the shipping company’s major problems. 

Disko Line’s new hybrid ferry

When the ship left the shipyard in Faaborg at the end of April, the plan was for her to arrive in Qaqortoq at the end of May and be included in Disko Line’s timetable between Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq from June 1st.

Disko Lines new hybrid ferry Maliina Ittuk solves the shipping company’s major problems. 

Disko Line’s new hybrid ferryAnnouncement

When the ship left the shipyard in Faaborg at the end of April, the plan was for her to arrive in Qaqortoq at the end of May and be included in Disko Line’s timetable between Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq from June 1st.

That’s not going to happen. When Maliina Ittuk left the shipyard, the trip went first to Aarhus and then to Grenå before the long trip across the Atlantic. On May 10, the large ship with space for 113 passengers set sail from Grenå, heading for Greenland.

However, Maliina Ittuk did not get further than Frederikshavn that same day. And here the hybrid ferry is now at the shipyard.

Motor problem

FUSION I SYDGRØNLAND

Disko Line and Blue Ice Explorer are now combining their activities in South Greenland under Disko Line, but Blue Ice Explorer will continue as an independent brand.

Director Michael Højgaard, Disko Line, says that the merger is happening because they expect a changed travel pattern in South Greenland when the airport in Narsarsuaq closes at the same time as the airport in Qaqortoq opens.

With the merger, Blue Ice Explorer’s accommodations – the village hotel in Igaliku and the youth hostel in Narsarsuaq – as well as the company’s tour operator activities will also become part of Disko Line, but will continue to be operated under the Blue Ice Explorer brand.

In addition, the head office of Blue Ice Explorer will be moved to Qaqortoq when the new airport opens in the city.

Mergers will take effect from June 1, 2025.

– During the voyage from Aarhus to Frederikshavn, operational problems were observed related to a generator in one of the ferry’s four engines. It was therefore decided to conduct a thorough technical investigation before the ferry could continue towards Greenland, says Michael Højgaard, CEO of Disko Line.

– The ferry is currently awaiting delivery of spare parts for the affected engine and a full review of the remaining three engines. We are working to resolve the current issue and also to ensure that no further operational issues arise.

– Therefore, it is currently not possible to say when Maliina Ittuk will arrive in Greenland.

Michael Højgaard also states that Disko Line has initiated a temporary reassignment of its vessels in June and July, so that the planned sailings during this period can be carried out as planned.

Oceans of problems

This is not the first time that Maliina Ittuk has caused problems for Disko Line. In fact, the ship has caused nothing but problems and delays since construction began six years ago.

Maliiina Ittuk is a so-called hybrid ferry. This means that the ship can sail with both a diesel engine and electricity from a large battery pack – and it has proven more than usual difficult to get this technology to work.

The first lines for Maliina Ittuk were laid in 2019, and Disko Line contracted with Assens Stålskibsværft for the building. But first came the corona – and then hybrid technology teased. This meant that in 2023, the construction of the ship was moved from Assens Stålskibsværft to Faaborg Værft.

Last spring, Maliina Ittuk was christened in Faaborg with Julie Berthelsen as godmother – and the original plan was for the ship to be put into service immediately after the christening. But the technology continued to present challenges, and it was not until the end of April that the final approvals from the Danish Maritime Authority and the classification society were received.

But not even that could do it – and now Maliina Ittuk is in Frederikshavn and can’t move on right away.

Disko Lines new hybrid ferry Maliina Ittuk solves the shipping company’s major problems. 

Disko Line’s new hybrid ferry

When the ship left the shipyard in Faaborg at the end of April, the plan was for her to arrive in Qaqortoq at the end of May and be included in Disko Line’s timetable between Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq from June 1st.

Disko Lines new hybrid ferry Maliina Ittuk solves the shipping company’s major problems. 

Disko Line’s new hybrid ferryAnnouncement

When the ship left the shipyard in Faaborg at the end of April, the plan was for her to arrive in Qaqortoq at the end of May and be included in Disko Line’s timetable between Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq from June 1st.

That’s not going to happen. When Maliina Ittuk left the shipyard, the trip went first to Aarhus and then to Grenå before the long trip across the Atlantic. On May 10, the large ship with space for 113 passengers set sail from Grenå, heading for Greenland.

However, Maliina Ittuk did not get further than Frederikshavn that same day. And here the hybrid ferry is now at the shipyard.

Motor problem

FUSION I SYDGRØNLAND

Disko Line and Blue Ice Explorer are now combining their activities in South Greenland under Disko Line, but Blue Ice Explorer will continue as an independent brand.

Director Michael Højgaard, Disko Line, says that the merger is happening because they expect a changed travel pattern in South Greenland when the airport in Narsarsuaq closes at the same time as the airport in Qaqortoq opens.

With the merger, Blue Ice Explorer’s accommodations – the village hotel in Igaliku and the youth hostel in Narsarsuaq – as well as the company’s tour operator activities will also become part of Disko Line, but will continue to be operated under the Blue Ice Explorer brand.

In addition, the head office of Blue Ice Explorer will be moved to Qaqortoq when the new airport opens in the city.

Mergers will take effect from June 1, 2025.

– During the voyage from Aarhus to Frederikshavn, operational problems were observed related to a generator in one of the ferry’s four engines. It was therefore decided to conduct a thorough technical investigation before the ferry could continue towards Greenland, says Michael Højgaard, CEO of Disko Line.

– The ferry is currently awaiting delivery of spare parts for the affected engine and a full review of the remaining three engines. We are working to resolve the current issue and also to ensure that no further operational issues arise.

– Therefore, it is currently not possible to say when Maliina Ittuk will arrive in Greenland.

Michael Højgaard also states that Disko Line has initiated a temporary reassignment of its vessels in June and July, so that the planned sailings during this period can be carried out as planned.

Oceans of problems

This is not the first time that Maliina Ittuk has caused problems for Disko Line. In fact, the ship has caused nothing but problems and delays since construction began six years ago.

Maliiina Ittuk is a so-called hybrid ferry. This means that the ship can sail with both a diesel engine and electricity from a large battery pack – and it has proven more than usual difficult to get this technology to work.

The first lines for Maliina Ittuk were laid in 2019, and Disko Line contracted with Assens Stålskibsværft for the building. But first came the corona – and then hybrid technology teased. This meant that in 2023, the construction of the ship was moved from Assens Stålskibsværft to Faaborg Værft.

Last spring, Maliina Ittuk was christened in Faaborg with Julie Berthelsen as godmother – and the original plan was for the ship to be put into service immediately after the christening. But the technology continued to present challenges, and it was not until the end of April that the final approvals from the Danish Maritime Authority and the classification society were received.

But not even that could do it – and now Maliina Ittuk is in Frederikshavn and can’t move on right away.