Chinese cruise firm sails into Europe with Concordia retrofit

Century Cruises, which is known for operating luxury cruises on the Yangtze River in central-eastern China, is working with its Basel, Switzerland partner United Waterways to gain a foothold on the continent.

Concordia Damen has now received the hull, which is also the accommodation decks, at its shipyard in Werkendam, for outfitting to meet the delivery timetable of June next year.

The vessel hull was built in Serbia, and it can accommodate 176 passengers. 

Concordia Damen is a joint venture between Concordia Group and Damen Shipyards Group, and was developed to focus on building ships for Europe’s inland waterways. Its portfolio includes dry cargo vessels, tankers, pushers, river cruise ships and custom-built pontoons, with an emphasis on low-emission propulsion and energy efficiency.

It has also now stepped into offshore wind logistics through innovative heavy-lift vessels like Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon.

While the new Century Cruises vessel will run on electricity and diesel, Concordia Damen has flirted with other means of propulsion, such as its hydrogen-powered MV Antonie for Lenten Scheepvaart, which was the first of its kind in inland waterway transport.

Concordia Damen’s designs aim to reduce hull drag and integrate solar and battery power. In May this year, the company delivered the Excellence Crown, a 135-metre hybrid river cruise vessel, for Twerenbold Reisen.

The company has also expanded its facilities with a new quay in Werkendam, enabling simultaneous berthing for multiple large vessels.