Concordia Damen has been contracted by an undisclosed Swiss luxury river cruise operator to deliver its River Cruise 135.
The new ship will have hybrid propulsion for reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions, high insulation, laser-controlled ventilation and environmentally friendly materials for the outfitting.
Hybrid propulsion system
The new River Cruise 135 will be outfitted with diesel-electric propulsion with smart peak shaving. The system is being delivered by the yard’s long-time partner and system integrator Oechies, and will combine diesel-electric and battery technology for optimal efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
Sustainable design
The vessel will be built to the Green Award Gold Standard, featuring high insulation, laser-controlled ventilation and environmentally friendly materials. It will also have a low draft because the ship is to navigate shallow waters; this will enable extended operations during low-water seasons and ensure consistent cruising schedules.
The vessel also features heat-recovery systems. One system runs on the engine’s cooling water and serves the central heating system; the second system is integrated with the HVAC system, which sprouts a modular-built chiller plant and an energy-saving cooling system.
Triton – Damen’s IoT solution for data-driven efficiency, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance – also reportedly adds extra operational reliability and reduced fuel consumption to the CDS 135.
Luxurious amenities
On board, there are spacious cabins, energy-friendly HVAC systems, customizable interiors and dedicated crew areas to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for guests and crew. For the latter, there’s a separate aft deck, including a mess room adjacent to the open deck.
Johan Muilenburg, project manager at Concordia Damen, commented, “We are excited to partner with this leading Swiss operator to deliver our innovative River Cruise 135. This contract underscores our commitment to eco-friendly practices and excellence in shipbuilding; and these are not just words! Cruise vessel owners and operators are welcome to visit our yard and see for themselves what this statement means in practice. One of the features I personally like best is the fact that we’ve integrated solar panels in the railing, which are instrumental in charging the battery system. Another one is that we’ve proven that this design needs significantly less power to sail under normal circumstances – a real fuel and cost saver. We are thankful to our client and very happy with this contract. After the A-Rosa Sena, this new 135 proves that Concordia Damen is really establishing itself in the river cruise market – the sustainable cruise market, to be precise.”
In related news, Damen recently began building a diesel-battery hybrid construction service operation vessel (CSOV) for Ta San Shang Marine (TSSM), just two months after the initial contract was signed. Click here to read the full story.