German Minister Apologizes for Ferry Troubles

Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther has issued an apology for the persistent problems plaguing the new solar ferry, 'Missunde III'.

During a meeting with regional mayors, Günther expressed regret on behalf of the state government and requested renewed trust. He acknowledged the significant disruption the ferry's unreliability has caused to commuters, businesses, and tourism in the region. The state government is reportedly dedicating all efforts to ensure the ferry operates successfully and permanently, not just through the summer season, and aims to prevent further downtime.

Mayors, including Joschka Buhmann of Brodersby/Goltoft, accepted the apology, emphasizing a collective desire to look forward and maintain a smooth ferry connection, especially for the tourism season and local fishing businesses. Tobias Hansen, Mayor of Kosel, noted that while it was a difficult period marked by negative headlines, recent intensive work to make the 'Missunde III' operational has been observed. He described the ferry as "a bit of a diva," prone to unexpected outages.

The 'Missunde III' resumed service on Tuesday after a three-week hiatus for repairs to its propulsion system. The ferry, which operates between Brodersby and Kosel-Missunde, had initially launched in late April, two years behind schedule. The issues have drawn criticism, with SPD state parliament member Birte Pauls advocating for compensation for regional businesses affected by the disruptions.