Flensburg/ Niederheimbach/Lorch 28.01.2026 – FRS Rheinfähren continue their growth strategy on the Middle Rhine. Following the acquisition of the Ingelheim–Oestrich-Winkel ferry connection in December 2024 and the St. Goar–St. Goarshausen service in January 2025, FRS has now also taken over the long-established ferry operator Schnaas GmbH. Since 1892, the company has provided the important ferry link between Lorch (Hesse) and Niederheimbach (Rhineland-Palatinate).

 

“We are very pleased to welcome the Schnaas ferry operation, another traditional and regionally significant ferry connection, into the FRS Rhine Ferries family and are very grateful to Mr. Schnaas for placing his trust in us,” emphasizes Tim Kunstmann, Managing Director of FRS Rheinfähren GmbH. “The Lorch–Niederheimbach route connects two federal states and is an essential element of everyday mobility for many people. We will continue operating this service with the same reliability and further develop it together with the team in a sustainable, future-oriented way.”

 

With this acquisition, FRS now operates three ferry services in close regional proximity, further strengthening its presence in the transport network of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

 

Key regional infrastructure

The Schnaas ferry operation is a vital part of regional public infrastructure. It ensures a reliable Rhine crossing year-round, operating daily from the early morning hours until the evening. The service is used equally by commuters and tourists.

 

Strategic addition to the fleet

The acquisition also offers operational advantages for FRS Rhine Ferries. The main vessel on the “Niederheimbach–Lorch” route is characterized by its shallow draught, making it particularly suitable for periods of low water levels. It is an ideal complement to the existing FRS Rhine Ferry between Ingelheim and Oestrich-Winkel, which has already relied on this vessel during extreme low-water situations in the past.

 

Tradition in new hands

For former owner Michael Schnaas, it was essential to transfer the ferry operation into reliable hands. “The Schnaas ferry operation is part of our family history. For us, it was crucial to find a partner who understands this heritage while also having the right capabilities for the future. FRS is an experienced family-owned company that recognizes the importance of such a ferry connection and will carry it forward. I am very pleased that our employees will be retained and that our company is in good hands with FRS.”

In the future, the ferry service will be managed by Simon Lanius and Tim Kunstmann, who are also responsible for the FRS Rhine ferry connections between Ingelheim and Oestrich-Winkel and at the Loreley.

 

About FRS Rhine Ferries

FRS Rhine Ferries operate reliable ferry connections across the Rhine in the Rheingau region and the Middle Rhine Valley. They connect commuters, tourists, and vehicles on key routes such as St. Goar–St. Goarshausen and Ingelheim–Oestrich-Winkel. As part of the internationally active FRS Group, FRS Rhine Ferries stand for safe, efficient, and scenically attractive Rhine crossings in regional transport.

 

About FRS, Flensburg

The FRS Ferry Group, headquartered in Flensburg, has evolved over more than 150 years from a regional passenger shipping company into an internationally active corporate group with more than 1,500 employees. FRS operates over 70 vessels worldwide. Today, the portfolio of the Northern Germany–based FRS Group comprises 14 operating subsidiaries located in Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.

In Northern Germany, FRS is one of the key players in inland waterway transport. The Glückstadt–Wischhafen Elbe ferry, one of the region’s most important infrastructure ferry services, connects Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony year-round with four car ferries operating at 30-minute intervals. In addition, FRS has extensive expertise in inland shipping through the “Weiße Flotte” in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, offering services around Rügen and in Rostock.

 

Furthermore, FRS operates several solar-electric ferries in Berlin and has the world’s first dual-fuel hydrogen CTV, the Hydrocat 55, in operation within the offshore wind sector. The broad positioning and international presence of the FRS Group underline its importance as a leading global provider of maritime transport connections.

 

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Press Contact:
FRS Rheinfähren GmbH
Bahnhofstraße 15, 56346 St. Goarshausen
Tim Kunstmann

Managing Director

E-Mail: [email protected]