TT-Line Reports Successful Bio-LNG Operation on Baltic Ferries

German ferry operator TT-Line said its Ro-Ro passenger vessels Nils Holgersson and Peter Pan successfully operated on bio-LNG during 2025, achieving significant emissions reductions while maintaining engine performance. The 230-meter vessels, commissioned in 2022 and 2023, are powered by two 8L51/60DF engines and two 6L51/60DF engines each. They operate in the Baltic Sea between Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania.

TT-Line worked with Everllence PrimeServ Germany to evaluate the use of bio-LNG as a substitute for fossil LNG, strengthening the long-term technical cooperation between the companies. The collaboration also included nearly a year of continuous emissions measurements aboard Nils Holgersson, conducted by Everllence to support operations optimization.

According to the companies, the testing showed no significant aging effect on the engines related to methane emissions, and emission values from test-bed trials were reproduced during onboard measurements. The evaluation also found no negative influence on engine operating parameters while using bio-LNG.

“With the use of climate-neutral bio-LNG, which is obtained from waste materials, TT-Line is making a decisive contribution to climate protection on the Baltic Sea,” said Andreas Schlaeri, COO of TT-Line. “Thanks to this technology, our Green Ships—the ‘Nils Holgersson’ and the ‘Peter Pan’—enable a CO₂-free journey throughout the entire fleet. Our customers can already fully compensate for their crossing by adding bio-LNG during the booking process. We are thus consistently focusing on solutions to sustainably reduce emissions and shape the future of ferry transport in a climate-friendly way.”

The bio-LNG used by TT-Line is sourced from agricultural waste in northern Europe. Biogas is fed into the grid, extracted, liquefied, and then loaded onto a bunker vessel that transports the fuel to the company’s ships. Replacing one ton of fossil LNG with bio-LNG saves about 2.75 tons of CO₂ emissions, the companies said, equivalent to a 100% reduction.

“The key benefit associated with bio-LNG is the reduction in CO₂ emissions,” said Dr. Michael Filous, Senior Vice President and Head of PrimeServ Germany, Everllence. “A major advantage for the customer is that while there are specifications that the fuel gas needs to fulfill—such as methane number—no additional engine works are necessary as long as the fuel gas meets the specifications. Indeed, this was the case for the Nils Holgersson.”

TT-Line said the collaboration provided positive operational experience with renewable fuels. The resulting emissions savings contribute to reductions in the company’s fleet emissions in the Baltic Sea through a process known as pooling. Under the pooling mechanism, emission reductions achieved through the use of renewable fuels are documented through certificates issued by the fuel supplier. These certificates verify the emissions savings generated by biofuels compared with conventional fuels, helping operators track and report progress toward emissions reduction targets.

Hydrogen-Based Propulsion

In late February 2026, Everllence upgraded a research-engine test bench at its Augsburg site to allow hydrogen combustion, representing a pivotal step toward the development of CO₂-neutral propulsion systems under the HydroPoLEn project. Dedicated hydrogen infrastructure is also established alongside the project in Augsburg, supporting current research and positioning the site as a key hub for developing future technologies.