Techno-economic analysis of the Waddenzee
Conference/JournalMARIN Report 147
Date26 May 2026
Since 2022, MARIN has been developing NEEDS, a dynamic techno-economic model designed to assist policymakers, shipowners, and national authorities in evaluating the impact of fleet retrofits on the entire waterborne transport system.
Retrofitting entire fleets to alternative propulsion systems presents challenges that go far beyond the propulsion system of a single ship. What efforts are needed to upgrade the onshore electric grid to enable full fleet electrification? How does reducing service speed affect communities living on islands? These are just two of the questions shipowners and government bodies consider when addressing projects with such complex, multidisciplinary issues.
Retrofitting entire fleets to alternative propulsion systems presents challenges that go far beyond the propulsion system of a single ship. What efforts are needed to upgrade the onshore electric grid to enable full fleet electrification? How does reducing service speed affect communities living on islands? These are just two of the questions shipowners and government bodies consider when addressing projects with such complex, multidisciplinary issues.
Contact
Giancarlo Marelli
senior project manager
Government tender for Waddenzee ferries
In November 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat) published a tender to renew the concessions for the ferries operating on the Waddenzee. During the tender preparation, MARIN used NEEDS to assess the transition scenario proposed by the government towards full electrification.
CO2 eq emissions distribution per route
NEEDS bunkered energy carriers per harbour
Evolution of the bunkered energy carriers per harbour (animation credits: Michiel Katgert).