AWARDS 2023 | Best River Tourist Boat – Strasbourg – Ship-ST

Best River Tourist Boat – Strasbourg – Ship-ST

Strasbourg, the first of a series of seven new electric inland waterways tour boats is reminiscent, although far more modern in shape and construction materials, of the popular Amsterdam canal tour boats of yore.

The aluminium 25-metre boats have been designed for maximum vision, comfort and safety as well, obviously, for economy, minimal emissions and silence.

With low water and air draughts, these attractive vessels seem perfect for conducting tourists around the delightful waterways of the historic City of Strasbourg.

“We believe the vessel is unique for the experience it provides passengers,” Laurent Mermier, CEO of Ship-ST, told Baird Maritime. “It is a fully-windowed boat with refined lines and a welcoming lounge. Also unique is the way the boat operates, as it navigates silently and the passengers can view the city of Strasbourg without distractions thanks to the reflection-free windows.”

Mermier added that the boat’s multimedia system provides audio commentary via headset in more than 30 languages and that passengers can each access a tablet that displays information about the city and even details such as the interior of buildings. Retractable windows meanwhile provide adequate ventilation on clear days, and the silent operation afforded by the electric propulsion means there are no unpleasant exhaust fumes.

“We are extremely grateful to the owner for giving us the time and means to design the boat in detail before we consulted with the shipyard,” said Mermier. “The hull design was worked on at length, as was the energy balance. We committed ourselves to ensuring the boat can operate up to 16 hours each day without reliance on diesel fuel and with electric charging only taking place at night outside the city.”

Mermier said one challenge posed by the design process lay in keeping the vessel’s energy expenditure as low as possible, and this also applied to onboard systems such as air conditioning, especially during the summer. Ship-ST then explored solutions such as double-glazing windows that were under four metres long to stay within framing limitations and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to minimise the risk of thermal runaway.

The company also designed a retractable window panel mechanism and installed digital tablets in the backrests, as there are no systems presently adapted to fit in existing boats. Fortunately, the yard was able to establish partnerships with suppliers responsible for the AC, the roof, and the electrical installation works to ensure all components were effectively incorporated.

“One lesson I will always remember is that the higher the owner’s expectations, the more important the naval architect’s work becomes,” said Mermier.

Ship-ST’s CEO also believes regulations are the factor that have the greatest influence on any vessel design project.

“The European regulations for inland navigation, ES-TRIN, are actually not well-suited to river tour boats. Easing of the rules is usually possible, but it wasn’t the case for this project, which is also intended for sailings on the Rhine River.”

Mermier explained that every space in the bottom of the boat is filled with buoyancy foam and the seats are non-combustible. Coordination with the owner and the yard was needed to enable correct maintenance and obtain a high-end design despite prevailing constraints. Fortunately for the designer, the regulatory requirements for lithium batteries were clear and so compliance was not as challenging.

“The regulatory difficulty is also administrative in nature,” he added. “The authorities in charge of issuing navigation certificates can change their minds during the project, and this can disrupt the design process.”

Despite these challenges, Ship-ST enjoyed a fruitful year in 2023 with its business steadily growing thanks to positive feedback both locally and abroad.

“Decarbonisation is an important subject today,” Mermier told Baird Maritime. “Shipowners are facing this challenge, and we are excited to support them in this regard.

“It seems the maritime tourism industry is divided into two: shipowners who are pushing for decarbonisation to the point that they reduce their cruising speeds and invest in highly efficient systems, and those who instead rely on low-carbon fuels so they would not have to incorporate any drastic changes in their serving offerings. I think there is a bright future for either type.”

When asked about future of the French workboat industry, Mermier said vessel quality will be decided by the quality of the engineers responsible for the design.

“The French know how to make complex yet reliable boats, so I think that France should be able to excel even in a future where technology is steadily accelerating.”

For a list of the 2023 “Best Of” award winners, please click here.