VESSEL REVIEW | Maasvliet – Cable recovery and transport ship delivered to Dutch operator
Dutch transport company the Hudig and Veder Group, via its Hartel Shipping and Chartering division, recently took delivery of a new cable recovery vessel from the Holland Shipyards Group.
Maasvliet is the first in a series of five vessels designed by Dutch naval architecture firm Conoship International. It will support offshore cable recovery, decommissioning and repurposing operations by retrieving and transporting subsea cables.
The vessel will be on long-term charter to New York-based Subsea Environmental Services and deployed for vital cable recovery and recycling projects over the coming years.
Full cable recovery suite
Maasvliet has an LOA of 89.43 metres (293.4 feet), a beam of 13.2 metres (43.3 feet), a design draught of 4.3 metres (14 feet), accommodation for seven crewmembers, and a cargo hold that measures 60.9 by 10.8 by 8.5 metres (200 by 35.4 by 28 feet).
The vessel is equipped with advanced cable management systems including dedicated tanks in the cargo hold for the collection and storage of cables retrieved from the seabed. This feature ensures smooth and efficient operations while meeting the high demands of offshore projects.
The spacious working deck and specialized handling equipment further enhance the vessel’s capabilities, enabling it to perform with precision in challenging conditions.
Optimised propulsion for lower emissions
In response to an increased focus on sustainability, the vessel is provided with a diesel-electric drivetrain, allowing for running on sustainable fuels now and later on in the future.
The vessel is propelled by two 374kW electric motors that deliver a service speed of 10 knots as well as three 350ekW generators and five Katsa 2L550 gearboxes. The latter can each fit two electric motors to make a redundant drive system.
The frequency-controlled, diesel-electric powertrain regulates the speed of the propellers on the basis of variables such as load factor, water level and navigation route, resulting in what the Holland Shipyards Group claims are fuel savings of up to 35 per cent as well as significantly fewer emissions.
A 250kW bow thruster is also fitted to provide additional lateral manoeuvrability during berthing/unberthing and positioning prior to commencing cable recovery activities. A power management system from D&A Electric meanwhile provides integrated control for optimal energy efficiency.
Construction of Maasvliet’s hull was undertaken in Nantong, China. It was later transported to the Holland Shipyards Group’s facilities in Hardinxveld for final outfitting and commissioning work.
