Dutch system integrator Van Tiem Elektro has contracted EST-Floattech to supply its Octopus High Energy battery systems for a new series of 15 river cruise vessels, in an order totaling 9.7MWh.
Each vessel will be equipped with 650kWh of battery capacity. EST-Floattech described the order as one of its largest river cruise contracts to date. The vessels are being outfitted at De Gerlien van Tiem in Druten and at Vahali Shipyards in Ghent, for a group of cruise operators including AmaWaterways and Uniworld, sailing on the Danube and in the Black Sea region.
The order builds on an existing relationship between the two companies, which have collaborated on previous maritime electrification projects. Van Tiem Elektro is already familiar with the Octopus platform from earlier vessels, including the tanker Solara and river cruiser Astara.
On board, the Octopus HE systems will support partial electric sailing, hotel load and emergency backup power. The platform combines EST-Floattech’s in-house cell and module technology with a String Controller for Modbus integration into a vessel’s existing systems, and holds type approval from DNV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, ABSÂ and RINA.
Marinus van der Putte, sales manager at EST-Floattech, said, “This order is built on mutual trust. Van Tiem Elektro is always solution-oriented, which makes them a genuine pleasure to work with. We’ve worked together before, and that long-term relationship, combined with their knowledge of our Octopus platform and their expertise in system integration, made this a natural next step in the river cruise market for both companies.”
According to EST-Floattech, work on the first hulls in the series is underway, with final deliveries scheduled through 2030. The company said the order reflects continued momentum in the river cruise sector, where operators – predominantly Swiss and German, along with one USA-based and one Chinese operator – continue to invest in electrification to reduce emissions and meet onboard hotel-load demands.
Maarten Soetekouw, co-owner of Van Tiem Elektro, said, “This is one of the largest electrification projects we’ve taken on: 9.7MWh across 15 vessels is a real step forward for sustainable river cruising, and we’re proud to be delivering it. EST-Floattech’s Octopus platform is a system our engineers already know well, and that experience gives us real confidence on a project of this scale. Their pricing was competitive, but what matters just as much is how we work together: open, practical and focused on getting the job done. We’re looking forward to a long-term collaboration across this entire series.”
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