By
Laura Hyde |
Concordia Damen is to build and deliver its in-house designed hybrid propulsion River Cruise 135 ship for an undisclosed Swiss luxury river cruise operator.
The ship, which has been recognised with a Green Award Gold Standard thanks to it meeting high safety and environmental standards, will have a diesel-electric propulsion system to reduce fuel consumption, optimise efficiency and lower emissions.
The vessel will have a low draft, which will enable it to easily navigate shallow waters and allow the Swiss operator to maintain operations during low-water seasons. It will also feature high insulation and laser-controlled ventilation, and environmentally friendly materials will be used for the outfitting, according to Concordia Damen.
The customisable interiors will feature spacious cabins with energy-friendly HVAC systems, and dedicated crew areas with a separate aft deck and an adjacent mess room.
The vessel’s interiors can be customised to suit operational needs
“This contract underscores our commitment to eco-friendly practices and excellence in shipbuilding,” said Johan Muilenburg, project manager at Concordia Damen. “One of the features I personally like best is the fact that we’ve integrated solar panels in the railing, which are instrumental in charging the battery system. Another one is that we’ve proven that this design needs significantly less power to sail under normal circumstances – a real fuel and cost saver. After the A-Rosa Sena, this new ‘135’ proves that Concordia Damen is really establishing itself in the river cruise market, the sustainable cruise market, to be precise.”
Concordia Damen is building a stock of vessel hulls in order to meet anticipated demand. Customers can adapt the interiors of the pre-built vessels to suit their individual requirements.