Schlepp- Und Fahrgesellschaft Kiel Mbh - Sfk

What Schlepp- Und Fahrgesellschaft Kiel Mbh - Sfk does

Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel mbH (SFK) is a 100% municipally-owned maritime transport company based in Kiel, Germany, established in 1996 and owned through the Eigenbetrieb Beteiligungen der Landeshauptstadt Kiel. The company operates two core public ferry lines — the F1 Fördefährlinie along the Kiel Fjord and the F2 Schwentineline crossing the Schwentine estuary — serving daily commuters, university students (under the Deutschland-Semesterticket), and tourists traveling to destinations including Laboe, Falckenstein, Schilksee, and Strande. SFK also operates harbor and sea tugboat services in the western Baltic Sea and the Kiel Canal under its traditional Schleppschifffahrt business, providing port assistance and sea towage for shipping operators on a 24/7 basis.

The company's core technology is a modernized fleet of 7 passenger ferries — including 4 plug-in hybrid vessels (MS Gaarden, MS Friedrichsort/MS Wik, MS Laboe, MS SCHILKSEE) and 3 fully electric ferries (MS Düsternbrook, MS Wellingdorf, MS Dietrichsdorf), all built by Holland Shipyards between 2020 and 2026 — alongside 3 harbor and sea tugboats (MS Kiel, MS Stein, MS Holtenau, MS Falckenstein) and 1 sea pontoon (Hörn 20). SFK holds ISO 50001 energy management certification through DEKRA and operates under EU NextGenerationEU-funded digitalization initiatives. The organization employs approximately 55-62 staff, including authorized managing director Andreas Schulz.

Revenue is generated through a transaction-fee model combining direct ticket sales (single, multi-journey, day, weekly, monthly, and annual passes), bicycle and dog transport fees, harbor/sea towage contracts, and charter/excursion services. Pricing integrates with the SH-Tarif Schleswig-Holstein public transport network plus a EUR 1 onboard surcharge for adults, with annual tariff adjustments (most recent April 1, 2026) and route-specific fares (F2 at EUR 2/adult). Distribution is omnichannel via onboard cashiers, ticket vending machines at Bahnhofsbrücke and Reventloubrücke, kiosk partners at landing stages, and digital channels including the company website, Facebook, Instagram, and a WhatsApp channel launched April 2026.

Name

Schlepp- Und Fahrgesellschaft Kiel Mbh - Sfk

Legal name

Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel mbH - SFK

Website

https://sfk-kiel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel mbH (SFK) is a 100% municipally-owned ferry and tugboat operator in Kiel, Germany, running the F1 Fjord and F2 Schwentine public ferry lines plus harbor and sea towage services, serving commuters, university students, tourists, and maritime operators with a modernized hybrid and electric fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Passenger Transport

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Inland Water Transportation (48321)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTLAFALAA

Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity)

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Ferry & Passenger Water Transport Operators

SECONDARYTLAHAHAE

Coastal/Sea Towage (Long-Distance Towing of Vessels/Barges)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Towage & Tugboat Services

SECONDARYTLAFALAK

Publicly Operated Ferry Authorities (Municipal/Regional)

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Ferry & Passenger Water Transport Operators

Keywords

• Public ferry services
• Harbor tugboat operations
• Maritime passenger transport
• Ship towage services
• Ferry fleet management

Headquarters

HQ city

Schinkel über Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Services: SFK generates revenue primarily through ticket sales for ferry services on routes F1 (Fjord ferry line) and F2 (Schwentine ferry line). Tickets are sold at various price levels (PS 2 and PS 3) with an additional on-board surcharge. The company accepts SH-Tarif and offers multiple ticket types including single, multi-journey, day, weekly, monthly, and annual passes. Revenue also includes bicycle transport fees and dog transport fees.
2. Tugboat and Towage Services: SFK operates harbor tug assistance and sea towage services in the western Baltic Sea and Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal). This represents a traditional maritime revenue stream for the company.
3. Charter and Excursion Trips: SFK offers harbor round trips (Hafenrundfahrten) and charter trips on the Kiel Fjord as additional revenue-generating services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SFK operates scheduled passenger ferry services on two routes on the Kiel Fjord (F1 Fördefährlinie and F2 Schwentinelinie) and provides harbor tug assistance and sea towage in the western Baltic Sea and Kiel Canal. The company sells tickets directly through onboard cashiers, vending machines, and partner kiosks, and integrates with the regional SH-Tarif public transport tariff and Deutschland-Semesterticket. It also offers charter trips and harbor round trips on the Kiel Fjord.

Product overview

Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel mbH (SFK) operates as a maritime transport company offering two core public ferry services (F1 Fördefährlinie and F2 Schwentinelinie) for local public transport on the Kiel Fjord, along with harbor and sea tugboat services. The company maintains a fleet of vessels including fully electric passenger ferries (MS Düsternbrook, MS Wellingdorf, MS Dietrichsdorf), plug-in hybrid ferries (MS Gaarden, MS Friedrichsort/MS Wik, MS Laboe, MS SCHILKSEE), and traditional tugboats (MS Kiel, MS Stein, MS Holtenau, MS Falckenstein). SFK is 100% owned by the City of Kiel and has been operating since 1996.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• F1 Fördefährlinie (Fjord Ferry Line) Scheduled public passenger ferry service on the Kiel Fjord operating from Bahnhofsbrücke through Seegarten, Reventlou, Bellevue, Mönkeberg, Möltenort, Friedrichsort, to Laboe, with summer-only extensions to Falckenstein, Schilksee, and Strande. Targets commuters, residents, tourists, and university students using SH-Tarif tickets, multi-trip passes, or day tickets.
• F2 Schwentinelinie (Schwentine Ferry Line) Passenger ferry service connecting the western bank (Reventlou landing stage) to the eastern bank (Wellingdorf and Dietrichsdorf) across the Schwentine river estuary. Serves maritime industry employees and HAW Kiel university students, with a special flat fare structure since 1 April 2026 that does not transfer to other routes.
• Schleppschifffahrt (Harbor and Sea Tugboat Services) Harbor tug assistance and sea towage services in the western Baltic Sea and the Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal), available 24/7 via Schifffahrtsinspektion. Targets shipping companies, vessel operators, and maritime businesses requiring safe vessel maneuvering, vessel relocations, and heavy/oversized cargo transport (including LNG tanks).
• Ticket Sales (Fahrkartenverkauf) and Public Transport Tariff Integration Distribution and sale of ferry tickets through onboard cashiers (Bordkassierer), ticket vending machines at Bahnhofsbrücke, Reventloubrücke, and Laboe, plus kiosk partners at Möltenort and Laboe landing stages. Integrates with the Schleswig-Holstein SH-Tarif and the Deutschland-Semesterticket for university students.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KVG Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKVG is SFK's sister company under the Vater Unternehmensgruppe. Both companies are municipal transport providers in Kiel. SFK's ferry routes integrate with KVG's bus network at various stops (e.g., Bahnhofsbrücke, Reventlou, Seegarten, Laboe, and others), providing connected public transport service. The two companies share operational synergies as part of the Vater Group.
• Vater Unternehmensgruppe (Vater Holding GmbH and affiliated companies)coreOthersSFK is part of the Vater Unternehmensgruppe, a commercial enterprise group owned by the Landeshauptstadt Kiel. This includes multiple subsidiaries such as Vater Solution GmbH, Vater ERPteam GmbH, Förde Campus GmbH, and others. The group provides shared services including IT, datenschutz (data protection officer Oliver Volk from Vater Solution GmbH), and administrative support.
• Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA)minorOthersBAFA is responsible for administering the federal funding programs for electric mobility and digitalization measures in Germany, as delegated by the EU and Federal Ministry.
• Holland Shipyards GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationHolland Shipyards, based in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands, has built multiple SFK vessels including MS Gaarden (2020), MS Düsternbrook (2020), MS Wellingdorf (2022), MS Friedrichsort/MS Wik (2022), MS Laboe (2023), and MS Dietrichsdorf (2023). This represents a significant fleet modernization partnership.
• Landeshauptstadt Kiel (City of Kiel)coreOthersSFK is 100% owned by the Eigenbetrieb Beteiligungen der Landeshauptstadt Kiel (municipal holdings company). The city government supports SFK's public transport expansion, including funding for new schedules and services. Mayor Ulf Kämpfer has publicly supported SFK's service improvements.
• DEKRAminorOthersDEKRA certifies SFK's ISO 50001 energy management system as required by the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), providing third-party verification of the company's environmental management practices.
• Verkehrsverbund Region Kiel (VRK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVRK is the regional transport association that coordinates public transport in the Kiel area. SFK's ferry services are integrated with VRK's bus network, with connected stops and combined ticketing through the SH-Tarif system. The VRK facilitates semester ticket agreements with universities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Reederei Hiddensee: Small passenger ferry operator serving Hiddensee island off the German Baltic coast near Rügen. Similar small-scale German coastal passenger ferry operations with comparable fleet size and seasonal exposure.

Direct peers

• HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst GmbH: Operates urban passenger ferry services in Hamburg harbor with a modern fleet that includes hybrid and electric vessels, mirroring SFK's Kiel Fjord model of municipal-style German urban waterway ferries with a sustainability-driven fleet renewal strategy.
• Bugsier, Reederei & Bergung: One of Germany's largest tugboat and salvage operators providing harbor towage services across major German ports including Hamburg and Bremerhaven. Directly comparable to SFK's tugboat operations in the western Baltic Sea and Kiel Canal.
• Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei (WDR): Operates passenger ferry services to the North Sea islands of Föhr and Amrum from the Schleswig-Holstein mainland. Similar small-scale German passenger ferry operator serving coastal/island communities with comparable operational footprint and seasonal demand profile.
• FRS (Flensburger Förde Reederei Seetouristik GmbH): Operates passenger ferry services in the Flensburger Förde and Baltic routes from Flensburg, very close geographic peer in Schleswig-Holstein with similar small-scale coastal passenger ferry operations.
• AG EMS: German passenger ferry operator serving the East Frisian islands including Borkum from Emden. Comparable small-scale German island/coastal passenger ferry services with similar operational and seasonal dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• TT-Line: German ferry operator serving Baltic Sea routes between Germany (Travemünde, Rostock) and Sweden. Comparable in Baltic passenger ferry operations but at materially larger scale than SFK's intra-fjord services.
• Scandlines: Major ferry operator connecting Germany (Rostock, Puttgarden) with Denmark across the Baltic Sea. Overlapping in Baltic Sea passenger ferry services but operating at significantly larger scale on international routes.
• Stena Line: International ferry operator with German routes including its own services out of Kiel. Provides passenger and freight ferry services with geographic overlap to SFK's home port but at significantly larger scale and broader route network.
• Fairplay Towage (Boluda Towage): Major European harbor towage operator with services across multiple German ports. Directly comparable to SFK's tugboat services but at a multi-port scale under a global towage group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100089791334910
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfk.kiel

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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