6 minute read
Evolution of River Cruise Vessels
den breejen shipyArd meets growing demAnd for luxury And sustAinAbility
A growing demAnd for more luxury And sustAinAbility Are chAnging the wAy in which river cruise vessels Are built. den breejen shipyard is busier than ever, with three vessels completed in 2019 and another four currently under construction. And there are plans to expand towards smaller seagoing ships.
All photos courtesy of den breejen shipyArd.
These are exciting times at Den Breejen shipyard. the family-owned company has just purchased additional land and quays in hardinxveld-giessendam with a view to expand its operations. And in the meantime, the orders for new river cruise vessels continue to pour in. In 2019, Den Breejen shipyards delivered three river cruise vessels: Adora to dunav tours in bulgaria, and Avalon envision and Avalon view to leading cruise company Avalon waterways which owns and operates a fleet of seventeen suite ships in europe. A stronger focus on luxury, space, and environmentallyfriendly solutions are making the construction process more challenging than ever, reveals owner and financial director ilona Kamsteeg-den breejen, the third generation of her family to be at the helm of the company. “we have been incredibly busy in the past year and fortunately, it doesn’t look like that will be changing any time soon. We are currently working on three identical high-end river cruise vessels for german investment company pce fondsmanagement and a new passenger vessel for emerald waterways.” According to ms Kamsteeg-den breejen, cruise companies are actively investing in new vessels. “following a short slump a few years ago, we are seeing that the european market is recovering nicely. A recent report by the Cruise Line International Association (cliA) states that river cruises are one of the most popular travel trends at the moment. the increased number of new ships on order supports this.”
Panoramic Views and Luxury because river cruise vessels are subject to size restrictions when sailing on rivers like the danube, the overall dimensions of the vessels have not changed. but on board, it is a different story. For instance, the 166 Avalon passengers can choose from two full decks of Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Den Breejen Shipyards delivered river cruise vessel Avalon Envision and to Avalon Waterways.
Den Breejen Shipyard is currently working on three identical high-end river cruise vessels for German investment company PCE Fondsmanagement.
the 18.5m 2 suites are approximately 30% larger than the industry standard. “the suites are becoming more spacious and luxurious”, details ms KamsteegDen Breejen. “Another noticeable change is the fact that there has been an increase in panoramic windows and sliding doors. there is a growing demand for more intimate surroundings and more luxury on board. Passengers are looking for smaller ships, more educational experiences, and a greater level of comfort.”
In addition to comfortable suites, the other amenities on board are also getting more luxurious: fitness and activity centres, various fine dining options, lounge clubs with comfortable furniture and panoramic views, and communal decks with a bistro, whirlpools, lounge chairs and games on the Sky Deck. “Every effort is made to make the passengers as comfortable as possible. it makes our job of building these ships more interesting and challenging”, adds ms Kamsteeg-den breejen. >>
Lots of activity at Den Breejen Shipyard with tankers Oranje Nassau V and Oranje Nassau VI on the left and the new river cruise vessel BN 3560 for PCE.
Interest in Sustainability Another challenge for the shipbuilders is the growing demand for more environmentallyfriendly solutions on board. “Sustainability is a hot topic in the entire shipbuilding industry at the moment, and it is no different for us. All our vessels are compliant with the current regulations and we are also looking for other future-proof, sustainable alternatives such as solar panels or battery packs”, explains Ms Kamsteeg-Den Breejen. “we are seeing an increasing interest in diesel-electric and hybrid vessels, including those with the option of a battery pack to sail fully electric for parts of the journey. These options take up more space than conventional diesel engines, so finding the appropriate way to fit these systems into
the design and integrate them on board was an interesting challenge.” Another part of the sustainability debate is the fuel being used. “we have started researching hydrogen fuel cells to prepare for future requests”, adds Ms Kamsteegden breejen. “because each vessel is custom-designed for our clients, we can deliver a concept that meets their wishes, needs, and budget.”
Revolutionary Design den breejen shipyards has been building river cruise vessels since 2001, a niche market in shipbuilding that has not suffered from the european economic crisis in the past decade, comments ms Kamsteegden breejen. “in fact, due to the ageing
population and increasing demand for luxury cruise travel, den breejen has been very successful.” The shipyard’s location in Hardinxveld-Giessendam on the riverbank of the merwede provides easy access to Europe’s inland waterways. It makes it particularly suitable for building high-end river cruise vessels, as well as their other specialty: building inland motor tankers. The company currently has several tankers under construction, including LPG tanker schloss Katharinen for gefo, and estuary bunker tanker Odyssee for Ocean Shipping. for shipping company oudcomb, den breejen recently delivered two type c chemical tankers Oranje Nassau V and VI. They are equipped with three innovative l-drive rudder propellers with a semi
The suites on board Dunav Tours’Adora have panoramic windows.
integrated permanent magnet motor in the thruster. “This creates an additional source of power. it has provisions for the installation of a battery pack and once these are installed, the vessels can sail completely emission-free for hours”, comments Ms Kamsteeg-Den Breejen. “The modified underwater ship allows the vessel to transport more volume, without encountering problems at low water levels. with climate change causing increasingly low water levels, this is a pretty neat feature.”
Expansion Plans den breejen shipyard recently purchased municipal land, as well as part of the port owned by the municipality of hardinxveldgiessendam. it will invest in the construction of new quays, allowing it to expand operations and increase the available capacity. “The expansion works will start soon”, concludes ms KamsteegDen Breejen. “Once the new quays are finished, it will be suitable for the mooring of small seagoing vessels with a greater draught. development of this port will result in more berths which will double the capacity for new-build vessels, in terms of both size and number. In addition, sufficient space will remain available for our repair and refit service. We have a fine reputation to uphold and are excited to see what the future will bring.”
