AG Ems Schedules 2026

The Aktien-Gesellschaft "EMS" has been carrying people down this estuary for more than 175 years. It began on 9 February 1843, when 12,000 Taler of shares were subscribed to found the Ems-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Concordia — running Emden to Delfzijl and Emden to Leer. Borkum was not yet on the list. The first excursion there came at Whitsun 1846, and by the end of that August the paddle steamer Kronprinzessin Marie had anchored off the island ten times.

Two mainland gateways, two kinds of ship

Boats leave for Borkum from Emden in Germany and from Eemshaven across the border in the Netherlands, which is consistently the cheaper of the two. The car ferries take about two hours; the high-speed catamaran Nordlicht does it in 60 minutes but carries no vehicles.

The fleet

MS Ostfriesland (1985, rebuilt 2015) was the company's first big move towards low-emission operation: it was converted into a liquefied-gas-powered car ferry, and takes 1,200 passengers and 70 cars on a 94-metre hull. A sister of the same size, rebuilt in 2022, carries 1,200 passengers and 75 cars. MS Westfalen (1972, rebuilt 1990) works the Eemshaven route and reinforces the schedule in the holidays. On the fast side, MS Nordlicht (1989) is a 272-passenger catamaran doing 38 knots, and MS Nordlicht II (2021) is the newest addition — 450 passengers at 35 knots. Störtebeker and Atlantis handle excursions, the latter through Emden's outer harbour and on selected dates to the fishing village of Ditzum.

Fares

A day ticket on the ferry is €30.40 from Emden and €27.70 from Eemshaven, children 4–11 half that, a dog €17.50. A holiday return runs €53.50 / €48.50, but a weekend return — valid from Friday 15.00 to Sunday — drops to €43.90 / €40.10.

The catamaran is sold in two classes. A Comfort Class day ticket is €46.00 (family of two adults and two children €99.00); Captain's Class is €61.00 (family €129.00). Returns reach €81.50 and €96.50 from Emden, noticeably less from Eemshaven.

Free travel for disabled passengers

Holders of a German severe-disability card with the relevant mark and validity stamp travel free on the Emden–Borkum ferry, as does a necessary companion or assistance dog where continuous accompaniment is recorded on the card. Wheelchairs and orthopaedic aids go free alongside hand luggage, and the same rule extends to buses and the Borkumer Kleinbahn, the island railway. On the catamaran the supplement is payable but the base fare is not. Passengers travelling alone who need assistance should register 48 hours ahead.

Luggage — and the catamaran's limit

Every ticket includes one piece of hand luggage (55 × 40 × 20 cm) plus one suitcase or travel bag, with pushchairs and wheelchairs carried free on top. But the catamaran's structure means bulky and excess baggage cannot travel on it at all. The practical answer is the company's baggage service: your bags go on the ferry and are delivered to your accommodation, chargeable except for wheelchairs.

Getting to the boat this summer

Bridge works at Emden between 18 July and 7 August 2026 mean all trains terminate at Leer — neither Emden Hbf nor Emden Außenhafen is served, with rail-replacement buses instead. The company has shifted its 14.00 departure to 14.15 for that period to make the connection workable. Check the live rail information before setting out.