Swiss shipping company Twerenbold Reisen Group has christened the diesel-electric hybrid vessel Excellence Crown. Built by Concordia Damen in Werkendam in the Netherlands, the 135m CDS River Cruise 135 type vessel is the 10th ship in the fleet of Swiss Excellence River Cruise, part of Twerenbold, and the first to feature hybrid propulsion.
Sustainable cruising design
The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system with smart peak shaving – a system that stores surplus energy in batteries for later use, including fully electric mooring in ports. Solar panels integrated into the railing support the charging system, as does shore power. In addition, two heat recovery systems have been installed – one uses engine cooling water for central heating and one is connected to the HVAC system.
“With this vessel, we are setting a new standard in sustainable river cruising,” said Johan Muilenburg, project manager at Concordia Damen. “Excellence Crown is built according to the Green Award Gold standard, incorporating high insulation values, laser-controlled ventilation and the use of environmentally friendly materials. Personally, I think the integrated solar solution in the railing is one of the most beautiful innovations.”
Luxury on board
The interior was designed by Nazly Twerenbold, who set out to translate the Swiss ‘boutique grand hotel’ feel into a maritime setting. The vessel features 73 passenger cabins and 12 suites, all with panoramic windows and soundproofing. In addition to an atrium, spa, restaurants and lounges, a separate crew aft deck with mess room and private quarters is available for the staff during longer voyages.
River cruise market
To meet rising demand, the yard recently began building hulls on stock and invested in a dedicated quay with space for three 135m vessels side by side. The facilities are also being used for refits and sustainability upgrades.
According to the shipping company, the Excellence Crown fits perfectly with its strategy to further develop sustainable tourism. Stephan Frei, CEO of Twerenbold Reisen, commented, “We want to inspire our guests with examples of how nature conservation and innovation can go hand in hand – from the Biesbosch to the green rooftops of Rotterdam.”
Building together
For the Excellence Crown, the family business partnered with, among others: CCM3, Hoogendoorn 1961, Technisch Installatiebureau Oechies, Breman Shipping Installation, Sun Roestvaststaal, Metaglas Group, PureBlue Water, Tischlerei und Alubau Wessels, De Ruyter Dieseltechniek and Lloyd’s Register.
Chris Kornet, managing director of Concordia Damen, stated, “After the success of the A-Rosa Sena, we took a close look at this market and how we can – and importantly, want to – build river cruise vessels. That’s what we set out to do. One of our decisions was to approach every project in this segment as sustainably as possible. Combined with our choice to build on stock and invest in an extra quay, this led, among other things, to this contract. We are very grateful to the Twerenbold family!
“Furthermore, I think it’s important to say that a ship is never built by the yard alone. We always do this with high-quality partners. I want to thank them as well for their unwavering commitment to bringing this ship into operation.”
In related news, Damen recently signed a contract with the City of Toronto in Canada to deliver two electric vessels to operate between the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto and the Toronto Islands. Click here to read the full story