Damen secures nine-vessel order with ferry JV

All nine of the vessels are designed to be extremely efficient in terms of weight, hull design and systems, featuring a hybrid-electric arrangement for peak shaving. Damen has developed the vessels’ interiors to be completely circular, using natural materials such as wool and wood, as well as recycled materials.

Vincent Maes, sales manager Benelux at Damen, said “Our work on this project is a good demonstration of Damen’s role, not only as a shipbuilder, but as a provider of comprehensive maritime solutions. What makes it special is our close cooperation with the team of Aqualiner-Swets. Together we have considered every aspect of the operation, looking at vessel types, routes and speeds for maximum fuel efficiency and considering methods to improve the passenger experience.”

EU contract

With these vessels, Aqualiner-Swets will provide the public transportation service between Rotterdam and the Drecht cities. Aqualiner-Swets is the winner of an EU-tendered contract for a maximum of 15 years.

Six of the vessels are hybrid and carbon fibre waterbuses to serve the fast ferry Intercity routes primarily between Sliedrecht, Dordrecht, Rotterdam and the World Heritage site Kinderdijk. The design means the vessels can be converted to full electric propulsion, by 2030 at the latest. The three city ferries will be fully electric from the start of service in 2022 and will operate in the city area of Dordrecht, Papendrecht and Zwijndrecht.