Name

AG EMS

Legal name

A.G. Ems-Nederland B.V.

Website

https://borkumlijn.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Ferry Services

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Ro-Pax Ferry Operators (Passenger + Vehicle Ferries) (TLAFALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Passenger Catamaran Operators (TLAFALAE), Integrated Ferry + Ground Transport (Intermodal) Services (THAEAGAK), Island & Remote Community Ferry Services (THAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry services
• Vehicle ferry transport
• Maritime passenger transport
• High-speed catamaran service
• Island ferry operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Emden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Tickets: Core revenue from transporting passengers between Eemshaven/Emden and Borkum island. Day tickets from €27.70 per adult, round-trip tickets from €48.50. Additional revenue from catamaran comfort and captain class upgrades.
2. Vehicle Transport: Revenue from transporting cars, trucks, and cargo vehicles. Prices based on vehicle length (per meter) starting at €46.80 per meter for standard vehicles under 2m height. Heavier vehicles over 3.5 tons require telephone/email reservation.
3. Onboard Catering and Hospitality: Food and beverage sales aboard vessels including the signature AG EMS shrimp burger, salads, vegetarian dishes, soups, and full meals. Private salon rentals available for €49 per single journey with 10% discount on onboard food and beverages.
4. Baggage Transport: Checked baggage service from terminal to accommodation on Borkum. €18.00 per piece (max 32 kg). Free baggage allowance includes one standard suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per passenger.
5. Cargo and Freight: Freight transport services for goods transported to and from Borkum island. Special rates apply for heavy, bulky, or refrigerated cargo requiring cranes or special equipment.
6. Combitickets and Packages: Bundled train and ferry tickets sold in partnership with Arriva, starting at €39.50 per person day return. Includes tourist tax for Borkum island.
7. Pet Transport: Dog tickets required for pet transport at €17.50 per dog for standard ferry round-trip. Higher rates for catamaran service up to €39.00.
8. Parking Services: Parking at Eemshaven terminal with automatic license plate recognition. €7.00 per calendar day for outdoor parking, €9.00 for hall parking. New system launched in 2025 with online payment option.
9. Bicycle and Equipment Transport: Round-trip bicycle transport at €18.90 without island train, €24.50 with train connection. Also includes e-scooters and cargo bikes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AG EMS operates scheduled passenger and vehicle ferry services between the Dutch mainland (Eemshaven) and German mainland (Emden) and the East Frisian island of Borkum, using LNG-powered auto-ferries (MS Ostfriesland, MS Münsterland) and high-speed catamarans (MS Nordlicht II, MS Nordlicht). Ancillary, paid offerings include on-board catering (with the signature AG EMS shrimp burger), private salon charters, family breakfast packages, parking with EV charging at Eemshaven, baggage delivery to Borkum accommodation, pet transport, and Arriva-bundled train+ferry combitickets for multi-modal travel.

Product overview

AG EMS operates a comprehensive maritime transportation portfolio centered on ferry services between the Netherlands (Eemshaven) and Germany (Emden) to Borkum island. The core offering consists of two LNG-powered autferries (MS Ostfriesland and MS Münsterland), high-speed catamaran services (MS Nordlicht II and MS Nordlicht), and additional vessels (MS Westfalen, MS Störtebeker). These are complemented by an integrated digital booking platform, catering services featuring the signature AG EMS shrimp burger, accessible travel accommodations, pet transport, luggage services, parking with EV charging, and the historic Borkumer Kleinbahn island railway. The company has expanded into sustainability with LNG propulsion technology and environmental certifications, positioning itself as a green shipping operator in the UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage site.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auto-Ferry Service (Eemshaven/Emden – Borkum) Traditional roll-on/roll-off ferry crossings carrying passengers, cars, trucks, and cargo between Eemshaven (Netherlands) and Emden (Germany) and the island of Borkum. Approximately 50 minutes from Eemshaven, 130 minutes from Emden. Fleet includes LNG-powered MS Ostfriesland (1,200 pax, 70 cars), LNG-powered MS Münsterland (1,200 pax, 75 cars) and MS Westfalen (70 cars). Adult round-trip from €48.50.
• High-Speed Catamaran Service (MS Nordlicht II / MS Nordlicht) High-speed catamaran crossings between Eemshaven/Emden and Borkum with Comfort Class and Captain's Class seating options. Approximately 25 minutes from Eemshaven, 50 minutes from Emden. Comfort Class round-trip from €62.50 adult, Captain's Class from €77.50 adult. MS Nordlicht also operates the Cuxhaven–Helgoland route.
• Arriva Combi-Ticket (Train + Ferry) Bundled train+ferry day return ticket sold through Arriva channel partnership, valid from any Arriva station in Groningen and Friesland provinces to Borkum, including tourist tax. From €39.50 per person.
• Day Trip to Borkum Day excursion package to the East Frisian island of Borkum including ferry crossing and access to 26 km of beaches, 130 km of cycling/walking paths and the historic island railway.
• MS Störtebeker Excursion Boat Tours Excursion vessel (172 passengers, 9 knots) offering island tours, seal watching trips and inter-island crossings from Borkum to Juist.
• Eemshaven Terminal Parking Parking facilities at the Eemshaven ferry terminal with ~2,000 spaces and 7 EV charging stations. Outdoor parking €7.00/calendar day, hall parking €9.00/calendar day, charged at prevailing EV rates.
• Luggage Transport Service Checked baggage service delivering luggage to accommodations on Borkum from the terminal. €18.00 per piece, maximum 32 kg. One hand luggage (55x40x20 cm) and one additional bag included free per passenger.
• Onboard Catering Service Food and beverage service aboard AG EMS ferries featuring the signature AG EMS shrimp burger, salads, vegetarian dishes, soups and full meals; also available at Fährhaus Eemshaven.
• Family Breakfast Package Packaged breakfast served aboard car ferries including bread, whole-grain bread, butter, scrambled eggs, bacon, jam, Nutella, fruit salad, cheese, ham, chicken salad, plus coffee, tea or hot chocolate. €35.90 for 2 adults & 1 child, €45.90 for 2 adults & 2 children.
• Exclusive Salon Charter Private salon rental on MS Ostfriesland/MS Münsterland for groups, parties or private company. €49.00 per single journey, includes 10% discount on onboard F&B, panoramic windows and private outdoor space. Automatically available for groups of 4+ persons.
• Pet Transport (Dog Tickets) Pet-friendly ferry travel with mandatory dog tickets. Standard ferry round-trip dog ticket €17.50; catamaran dog ticket €31.50–€39.00. Dogs must be leashed and muzzled if necessary; not permitted in dining areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90-95% reduction in nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions vs conventional ship diesel
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WärtsiläcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 August 2020Supplier of LNG tank type C and main engines for ferry conversion projects. Wärtsilä supplied the special gas tank (53 m³ volume for MS Münsterland) and main engines integrated into the new stern sections of LNG-converted ferries.
• Koninklijke Niestern Sander BVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2019Shipyard contracted for conversion of MS Münsterland to LNG-powered ferry. Located in Farmsum/Delfzijl, Netherlands. Responsible for building new stern section with complete new environmentally friendly technology including Wärtsilä gas tanks and Azignel propulsion systems. Awarded contract following EU-wide tendering process.
• ArrivacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 March 2018Partnership to sell combined train and ferry tickets (combitickets) from Arriva train stations in Groningen province and Friesland to Borkum island. Enables travelers to book train + ferry journeys from €39.50 per person. Trains run directly from Groningen station to Eemshaven, connecting with ferry departures.
• ProRailminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2018Railway infrastructure operator for the new railway extension to Eemshaven (3 km from Roodeschool). Enables direct train access to the ferry terminal, improving multimodal transport connectivity.
• Groningen SeaportsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2018Port authority for Eemshaven providing ferry terminal infrastructure. Co-funder of railway extension project connecting Groningen to Eemshaven ferry terminal.
• NOW GmbHminorOthers · 28 March 2018Coordinates funding from German Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV) for mobility and fuel strategy transformation projects including LNG ferry conversions.
• Borkumer KleinbahncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIsland railway operator providing passenger transport from Borkum ferry harbor to island center. Ferry tickets include island train (or bus) transportation. Joint excursion offerings including MS Störtebeker boat trips.
• Reederei Cassen EilsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AG EMS corporate group of maritime and hospitality companies serving the Wadden Sea region. Provides additional ferry services in the group network.
• Adler & EilsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AG EMS corporate group operating ferry services in the North Sea region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Viking Line: Viking Line operates passenger ferries across the Baltic Sea between Finland, Sweden, and Estonia. Comparable passenger-focused business model with onboard catering, premium cabin tiers, and tourism-driven demand, though at significantly larger scale.
• Color Line: Color Line is a major Norwegian ferry operator running passenger and vehicle services between Norway, Denmark, and Germany. Comparable Ro-Pax model with strong tourism orientation and onboard hospitality revenue, but with substantially larger fleet and route footprint.
• Stena Line: Stena Line is one of Europe's largest ferry operators, with passenger and freight services across the North Sea, Irish Sea, and Baltic. Comparable Ro-Pax operations and onboard service offerings but at substantially larger scale and route diversity than AG EMS.
• Scandlines: Scandlines operates Ro-Pax ferries on Baltic routes between Germany and Denmark (Rostock-Gedser, Puttgarden-Rødby). Larger scale operator in adjacent European waters with same Ro-Pax passenger+vehicle model and similar environmental fleet modernization efforts.
• Irish Ferries: Irish Ferries operates passenger and vehicle ferry services between Ireland, the UK, and France. Comparable passenger ferry model with onboard catering and cabin tiers serving tourism and vehicle customers, though operating in different waters.
• Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries operates passenger and freight ferries between the UK, France, Spain, and Ireland. Comparable Ro-Pax business model with passenger ticket pricing, vehicle tariffs, and onboard hospitality catering; significantly larger scale and longer crossing distances than AG EMS.

Direct peers

• TT-Line: TT-Line operates Ro-Pax ferries carrying passengers and vehicles across the Baltic Sea between Germany and Sweden. Directly comparable business model with passenger ticket pricing, vehicle tariff by length, onboard catering, and similar fleet configuration of dual-fuel/clean-fuel ferries.
• FRS (Forde Reederei Seetouristik): FRS operates passenger ferry services across European waters including the North Sea (Helgoland) and Mediterranean routes. Comparable as a mid-sized European passenger ferry operator with mixed coastal/inter-island routes, similar in scale and charter/high-speed service mix to AG EMS.
• Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei (WDR): WDR operates Ro-Pax ferry services to the German North Sea islands of Föhr and Amrum from Dagebüll. Directly comparable business model: roll-on/roll-off passenger and vehicle ferries serving a single German island destination, with similar vehicle pricing structures and seasonal tourism focus.
• HADAG (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik): HADAG operates passenger ferries within Hamburg harbor and on Elbe commuter routes. Comparable as a German passenger ferry operator with a mix of scheduled short-distance services and tourist/commuter passengers, similar operational complexity and B2C direct-booking model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Borkumfaehre
• Facebookfacebook.com/Borkumlijn
• Instagraminstagram.com/borkumfaehre
• Pinterestpinterest.de/borkumfaehre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ag-ems-nederland-bv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AG EMS