VESSEL REVIEW | Waalvliet & Rijnvliet – Netherlands' Hudig and Veder to deploy coaster pair for European shortsea trade

Netherlands-based shipping company the Hudig and Veder Group, through its Hartel Shipping and Chartering division, recently welcomed two new vessels to its shortsea cargo fleet.

Waalvliet and Rijnvliet were designed by Dutch naval architecture firm Conoship International and built by a partnership that includes the Holland Shipyards Group (HSG).

Ideal for a broad range of cargo types

These vessels are the second and third units in a new series of shortsea coasters commissioned by Hartel Shipping for the transport of breakbulk and containerised cargo (Maasvliet, the first ship in the series, has been reconfigured for cable recovery and recycling duties in support of the offshore energy sector).

HSG said Waalvliet and Rijnvliet are purpose-built to meet the operational demands of the European shortsea market, combining flexibility, cargo efficiency and robust construction.

Each ship has a length of 89.42 metres (293.4 feet), a beam of 13.2 metres (43.3 feet), a maximum draught of 5.25 metres (17.2 feet), a moulded depth of 7.2 metres (24 feet), a deadweight of approximately 4,200, a gross tonnage of 2,781, and space for seven crewmembers.

Cargo on each vessel can be carried on a full-length tween deck and in a hold with a total capacity of 5,530 cubic metres (195,300 cubic feet).

The ships also boast movable reinforced bulkheads and pontoon hatch covers, enabling them to easily adapt to different cargo requirements including oversized loads that may only be carried in open-top configuration.

Flexible propulsion arrangement also compatible with alternative fuels

The diesel-electric propulsion arrangement on each vessel consists of three 350kW generators, two 374kW electric motors, an enlarged propeller, a 250kW bow thruster and Econowind retractable sails with the entire setup being controlled with the aid of an intelligent system. The propulsion can deliver a service speed of 10 knots.

Conoship said the propeller has an optimum diameter ensuring the best possible efficiency and the lowest possible fuel consumption. A power management system can meanwhile regulate the speed of the propeller, resulting in fuel savings of up to 35 per cent and significantly reduced emissions.

The ships’ propulsion systems can also be upgraded in future to permit operation on alternative low-emission technologies such as batteries as well as hydrogen and ammonia fuel. Conoship said the standardised design approach applied in this series of vessels offers the advantages of reduced delivery time while maintaining cost-effectiveness, making it an ideal solution for operators looking to modernise their fleets.

Waalvliet and Rijnvliet will be operated on Hartel Shipping’s shortsea routes across Europe. The ships are registered to the Netherlands and are classed by Bureau Veritas.