Friday a week ago, inland shipping company MerlinGroup celebrated the delivery of the Salamanca. It is the first ship of Concordia Damen’s CDS 443 design, showcasing a clear synergy between sustainability and cargo capacity.
During the festive Open Day, the ship was christened. The new dry cargo ship replaces the old Salamanca owned by partner Danny van Deurzen and will operate for Danser Group and Pro-Log. Thanks to its hybrid propulsion system, the ship has been awarded the Green Award Gold certificate.
Also read: Merlin orders dry cargo vessel from Concordia Damen
Balancing efficiency, sustainability, and cargo capacity
The 135-metre x 14.20-metre vessel represents an evolution of the shipyard’s existing principles and leads to a twenty per cent fuel saving. Inland shipping entrepreneur Jan Kleine (MerlinGroup) and co-owner Van Deurzen are highly satisfied after the recent trial voyage.
Van Deurzen: ‘When choosing a new ship, sustainability was a top priority. Together with MerlinGroup, we are committed to the energy transition wherever possible. With this “next-generation” ship, we have largely achieved that goal. By using up to twenty per cent less fuel, we also emit fewer harmful substances.’
‘Efficiency, sustainability, and cargo capacity were our main concerns, but balancing these three requirements wasn’t easy,’ adds Kleine. ‘We explored various options. This new ship type from Concordia Damen, with whom we have been collaborating for some time, best meets our requirements, which ultimately made the difference.’
Heleen Kornet, marketing communications manager at Concordia Damen: ‘We are very pleased that the favourable “speed-power curve” we expected has been realised. And the beauty of this design is that it allows for adjustments based on customer preferences, both in terms of accommodation and propulsion types. This flexibility enables us to easily adapt to customer, regulatory, or market demands.’
Also read: Concordia Damen to build dry cargo vessels based on Parsifal design
Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
In addition to serving the Dutch and Belgian markets, the ship will also operate in the German Rhine navigation. Kleine explains: ‘In addition to fuel savings, the Salamanca offers ten per cent more 40-foot container capacity compared to similar ships. That’s a significant advantage. Lastly, the ship is equipped with diesel-electric propulsion and is also prepared for a fully electric system, which aligns with our future plans. These features have helped us secure a long-term contract with our customer Danser Group.’
MerlinGroup, a participation company, currently operates a fleet of nine ships and is primarily active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland.
Picture by MerlinGroup.
Also read: Concordia Damen converts inland vessel into dredger
