Damen Shipyards’ client Gerdes Green has received a subsidy from the German government for sustainable innovations for a Damen Combi Freighter (CF) 3850 currently under construction, as well as for a second vessel. This CF 3850 Hybrid is to reduce the environmental footprint of coaster vessel operations.
Damen developed the tailored CF 3850 together with Gerdes Green and vessel charterer Cargill.
The subsidy was presented to Gerdes Green by Minister Volker Wissing at an event held at the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (in Berlin, Germany) on 4 October. The subsidy was one of a number awarded to maritime companies as part of the German Government’s Namkü directive. Namkü aims at the modernisation of vessels in a bid to reduce emissions produced by the country’s coastal fleet.
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Batteries, wind-assist, biodiesel and shore power
As a result of the subsidy award, Gerdes Green will invest in a number of options that will serve to further increase the efficiency of its new CF 3850 vessels. This involves the inclusion of a battery driven propulsion system. With this, the vessels will be able to sail short-term fully electrically without local emissions, for instance when approaching ports and when passing through populated areas.
The vessels will also feature wind assisted propulsion in the form of foldable ventofoils from Econowind. This innovative wing-shaped device harnesses the wind to provide additional propulsion force, lowering dependence on the engine, thereby reducing emissions.
The vessels will also be able to sail on B100 biodiesel, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Furthermore, they will include a 130kW shore connection, eliminating emissions when the vessels are docked.
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An icon fit for the future
Damen recently redeveloped the CF 3850 applying the latest tools and using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and significantly lowering the vessel’s resistance in the water.
This hybrid version has been developed in collaboration with Gerdes Green and Cargill. Gerdes Green is a joint venture between Reederei Gerdes and Over-C. Reederei Gerdes has been active in the coaster segment for thirty years and has, for the last few years, been operating seven CF 3850 vessels from Damen.
The company partnered with the European coaster specialist and charter company Over-C to develop a fleet of low-emission, sustainable vessels. The joint venture’s approach is to develop its coasters together with charterers, customising the vessels to meet the requirements of its clients.
Steps towards carbon neutrality
Gerdes Green managing partner Nicole Gerdes: ‘With this funding, we have achieved a significant milestone for our strategy to build a climate-neutral fleet. The ships will make a valuable contribution towards our journey of reducing the environmental impact of supply chains, leading the way for decarbonising the short sea shipping trade in Europe.’
‘This serves as confirmation that the steps we have taken together with Gerdes Green and with Cargill are relevant and will help support the maritime energy transition,’ adds commercial director of Damen Cargo Vessels Remko Bouma. ‘We are proud of what we have achieved with the new CF 3850. We have taken a deservedly popular vessel and made it fit for the future, using a range of proven, reliable technologies that generate tangible results.’
Included amongst the technologies that the new CF 3850 draws on is the Damen Triton remote monitoring platform. This IoT solution is connected to systems throughout the vessel and provides feedback on their performance. In this way, Damen can assess performance, gaining valuable data that enables it to continue to improve efficiency, ensuring further evolutions of efficiency in subsequent generations of vessels.
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