Following the extensive pre-commissioning works over the last few weeks, the newly built dry cargo vessel Vertom Patty has left the Thecla Bodewes Shipyards Kampen facility for sea trials. It is the first of six vessels of the 7000-DWT LABRAX series for Vertom.

The sea trials will be executed in the North Sea after which the vessel will join the fleet of Vertom Group.

Construction of the second and third vessel has already begun at Thecla Bodewes Shipyards facility in Kampen, the Netherlands. The vessels measure 118.60 metres x 14.30 metres. Further deliveries are scheduled up to mid-2025.

Also read: VIDEO: Thecla Bodewes Shipyards launches first of 7000-DWT LABRAX series for Vertom

Future-proof modular electric propulsion

The LABRAX 7000-DWT cargo vessels are especially developed to Vertom’s requirements for providing tailor-made shipping solutions. Groot Ship Design provided the concept, naval architecture, hull construction design and production package.

The completely box-shaped cargo holds ensure optimal loading flexibility and maximum cargo intake. During detail engineering, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) optimisation of the hull design was performed for a fuel-efficient speed-power performance powered by a future-proof modular electric propulsion system. This system distributes the vessel’s energy load more efficiently, by using several smaller engines that adjust to the current sailing profile for the most efficient combustion.

This hybrid concept is designed to be ready for future developments, because of the possibility to make the vessel’s propulsion methanol-electric or hydrogen-electric.

Also read: Thecla Bodewes Shipyards to build two more 7000-TDW vessels for Vertom