The KNVTS has revealed the three nominees for the Ship of the Year Award 2026. They are: gas carrier Carbon Destroyer I – Royal Niestern Sander, cutter dredger Rotterdam 26 – DE Klop BV, and commissioning service operation vessel Windcat Rotterdam – Damen Shipyards.
All submitted vessels were assessed by the jury following receipt of the relevant information. The vessels are assessed based on how design, technology, safety, build quality and economic significance come together in one innovative and distinctive concept.
From the submitted ships, the three most deserving candidates for the prize were selected. There is a fine diversity of categories, which makes the competition both interesting and complex. All three vessels are prime examples of the innovative strength, bespoke design, sustainability and bold approach of the Dutch shipbuilding industry. The vessel that wins this prestigious award will be, both literally and figuratively, the figurehead of Dutch shipbuilding.
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Carbon Destroyer I
Carbon Destroyer 1 is a 149.95-metre-long offshore CO2 carrier, built by Royal Niestern Sander in Delfzijl and operated by Royal Wagenborg on behalf of INEOS Energy for Project Greensand. It is the first vessel of its kind to have been designed, engineered and built in the Netherlands and Europe.
Prior to this project, there was no vessel in Europe capable of transporting and injecting CO2 offshore on a commercial scale. The solution arose from a three-way partnership between INEOS, Wagenborg and Niestern Sander, supported by specialist co-developers including Praxis, Eekels, Wärtsilä and Geldof. The vessel integrates three separate technical domains – a proven short-sea cargo platform, an offshore DP2 positioning system and a cryogenic CO2 processing plant – into a single certified operational unit. It is not a standalone vessel, but a precision component within a complete carbon capture and storage (CCS) logistics chain, connecting CO2 emitters in Europe with permanent storage 1800 metres below the North Sea seabed.
A life-cycle analysis of the entire chain shows a net storage efficiency of approximately 91.5 per cent: for every tonne of CO2 emitted by the ship’s engines, approximately 35 tonnes are permanently stored offshore. With green electricity and biofuel, an efficiency of over 95 per cent is achievable. The vessel has been designed as the first in a scalable class, with the aim of achieving 400,000 tonnes of CO2 storage per year in the first phase.
Rotterdam 26
The Rotterdam 26 (Cygnus 500) has been submitted for the award by DE Klop BV of Sliedrecht. It is a fully electric, standardised and demountable cutter suction dredger, designed for emission-free dredging. With this fully electric cutter suction dredger, DE Klop demonstrates that emission-free dredging need not be confined to pilot projects or future visions, but can actually be translated into an operational, scalable and industrially viable vessel concept.
The jury considers Rotterdam 26 to be a compelling example of Dutch maritime innovation. The vessel stands out due to the full electrification of its sand pump, cutter, winches and spud systems. As a result, it is not a conventional cutter suction dredger powered by an alternative energy source, but a modular dredging concept in which energy losses, maintenance-intensive components and environmental risks associated with hydraulic oil are significantly reduced.
The jury commends the economic viability, the cleaner and quieter working environment, and the entrepreneurial spirit with which DE Klop built the vessel for stock. Rotterdam 26 combines technical innovation, sustainability and manufacturability in a single, operational dredging concept.
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Windcat Rotterdam
The Windcat Rotterdam is a carefully designed and built commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) that demonstrates the power of Dutch maritime innovation and systems integration. The vessel, developed by Damen in collaboration with Windcat, combines proven technologies to create a highly effective offshore support platform for the offshore wind and energy sector.
The jury particularly commends the innovative hull form, which has been extensively optimised through hydrodynamic research and model trials at MARIN. Combined with a DP2 system featuring four fully azimuth-capable thrusters, an anti-roll tank and advanced motion-compensated transfer systems, the vessel boasts excellent manoeuvrability, stability and positioning performance.
Economic efficiency has been achieved through the integration of electric propulsion, a battery-supported, closed-bus energy system and optimised energy management. These features reduce fuel consumption, increase the efficiency of the generators and lower operating costs over the ship’s lifetime, without compromising its seagoing performance.
Furthermore, the vessel demonstrates a clear focus on sustainability. The hybrid-electric architecture reduces current emissions, whilst provisions for future fuels such as hydrogen, methanol and ethanol offer flexibility for further sustainability improvements.
The Windcat Rotterdam does not stand out because of a single revolutionary innovation. The ship’s strength lies precisely in the successful integration of existing technologies into a coherent, efficient and future-proof whole.
Maritime Awards Gala
Together with four other awards – The Maritime Innovation Award, Maritime Talent Award, Maritime Security Award and Maritime Achievement Award – the Ship of the Year Award is presented at the annual Maritime Awards Gala. In 2026, the Gala takes place on 2 November at Studio 21 in Hilversum.
Picture (top): Combination of the nominated vessels (original pictures supplied by DE Klop, Royal Niestern Sander and Damen Shipyards, combined by ChatGPT).
