Conversion Münsterland at Royal Niestern

Conversion Münsterland at Royal Niestern Sander

IN JULY 2020, ROYAL NIESTERN SANDER SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR THE CONVERSION OF PASSENGER SHIP MÜNSTERLAND. ROYAL NIESTERN SANDER RECEIVED A CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS INNOVATIVE PROCESS FROM THE EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROYAL WAGENBORG/NIESTERN SANDER.

Royal Niestern Sander will design and build a completely new af ship for the passenger ship from 1986, including dual fuel engines, LNG storage tanks, propulsion systems, all LNG installatons, pipelines, and other systems. This completely new stern will replace the Münsterland’s existng stern. Thanks to its expertse and facilites, the shipyard has a conversion method in mind that ofers the possibility of reducing the idle tme of an existng ship – and therefore the loss of income – to a minimum.

Shipbuilding and ship repair

Shipyard Royal Niestern Sander has been designing, building, and repairing ships since 1901. They also specialise in complex customerfocused ship conversions and in building heavy constructons according to the NEN1090 standard. Niestern Sander’s project approach is based on the company’s two pillars of shipbuilding and ship repair. Due to this combinaton, most conversion operatons take place at the shipbuilding yard.

Going green

Thanks to the LNG conversion, the Münsterland will start using a much less pollutng fuel, which will signifcantly reduce emissions. The new shape of the stern will also reduce the hull resistance. As a result, the ship needs less engine power to sail at the same speed, which means a reducton in fuel consumpton and noise. The vessel will stll remain in service during these actvites.

With the Münsterland, Royal Niestern Sander can demonstrate the economic feasibility of an LNG conversion in practce, thanks to its unique conversion method. It also shows how to solve space limitaton when convertng an existng ship. The Münsterland will be put back into service in its new form by AG Ems in the summer of 2021.

New milestone

Well under way in this project, the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard installed the new af ship on the passenger ship in the beginning of this year. This completely newly designed and built af ship contains the dual fuel engines, the LNG storage tank, propulsion, all LNG installatons, pipes, and other systems. The old af ship was removed and transported on a pontoon to Groningen for recycling. The af ship, built by the yard’s shipbuilding department, was transported from the innerdike locaton to the dock locaton by the same pontoon. Upon arrival at the dock, the new stern with modular trailers was driven from the pontoon into the dock and placed in positon behind the Münsterland.

i. niesternsander.com

The Münsterland conversion takes place in the shipyard of Niestern Sander.

The old aft ship was removed and transported on a pontoon to Groningen for recycling.

The Münsterland will be put back into service in its new form by AG Ems in the summer of 2021.