Alewijnse has been awarded a four-year contract for the electrical maintenance of the entire fleet of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Under this contract, Alewijnse will be responsible for both preventive maintenance and 24/7 service handling.
This will ensure that the patrol vessels remain in optimal condition, thereby keeping the Port of Rotterdam safe, clean and efficient. The contract covers sixteen vessels, including seven incident response vessels, two survey vessels, five patrol vessels, one RHIB, and the Nieuwe Maze, the Port Authority’s official hospitality and protocol vessel.
The fleet, with an age ranging from seven to 42 years, is increasingly operating on electric power. Two incident response vessels and the newest patrol vessel are already equipped with hybrid propulsion systems. Another patrol vessel will be converted to become fully electric this year, making it the first zero-emission patrol vessel in the Port of Rotterdam.
Also read: Damen and Alewijnse build new offshore support tugs
Guaranteed service and capacity
After an intensive tender process, Alewijnse was declared the best candidate. The contract will commence on May 1, 2026, for a period of four years with an option for extension. The contract will include preventive maintenance and Alewijnse will also proactively contribute to optimising the vessels and implementing innovations, as well as undertaking remote maintenance.
In addition, experienced planners will be on-call 24/7 to deploy the right specialists on-site as quickly as possible in the event of malfunctions.
Also read: Alewijnse equips Vietnam’s largest bulk carrier
Familiar with the fleet
Wouter Schouten, Service Coordinator at Alewijnse: ‘We have worked together for many years in the field of maintenance and service. We have already carried out various activities on the majority of vessels in their fleet, such as inspections, preventive maintenance and resolving electrical faults. On the patrol boats RPA 14 and RPA 15, we have even carried out complete refits.’
‘Our fleet operates 24/7 and requires partners who can adapt accordingly,’ adds Gert Kramer, Asset Manager at the Port of Rotterdam Authority. ‘A new contract partner is always an exciting moment. However, we recognise many of the skilled professionals from previous cooperations and so we expect that we will quickly adapt to working together.’
Picture by Marco de Swart.
Also read: Alewijnse, Van Meer partner on hybrid and electric propulsion
