Damen vessel for Amsterdam Canals

The Waterspreeuw, which was designed and constructed for the Water Network Foundation (Waternet), will be used for inspections and patrols, as well as for enforcing legislation and rules in Amsterdam’s canals.

The new vessel has an overall height of 1.80m, allowing it to pass under all the bridges along the city’s through routes, while the rudder propeller and 11 kW bow thruster make the vessel highly manoeuvrable in the narrow canals.

Mr Roel Foolen, project leader, Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, told Maritime Journal: “The most notable innovation of the Waterspreeuw is the fact that with an average speed of 10 km/h this vessel can be used by Waternet for at least 6 hours with zero emission. Therefore, the Waterspreeuw is fully consistent in the policy of Waternet for the reduction of emissions and is furthermore designed to be a multi-tasker in the complex hydrological environment of Amsterdam.”

It can be powered entirely by electricity with a 130 kW electrically driven rudder propeller manufactured by Hydrosta. ES Technology supplied 13 lithium polymer batteries for the drive system, which provide enough electricity for at least 6 hours at an average cruising speed of 10 km/h.

The vessel also features a Steyr/AMK diesel generator set that complies with the European CCR3 standard for exhaust gas emissions set by the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine.

TheWaterspreeuw also has its own 3m spud pole to allow it to moor anywhere without being dependent on the mooring facilities available.