Concordia Damen wins bid on pontoon contract

The contract comes after delivery of the barge Pieter van der Wees by Concordia Damen five years ago.

The new Lastdrager 29 Ro-Ro pontoon is being designed and developed by Van der Wees and Shipbuilding Solutions ‘to meet unique transport challenges’.

The design includes a removable drive-in function to enable seamless loading and unloading of high and heavy cargo and supports loads of up to 600 tons.

“Its optimised dimensions ensure efficient navigation through Europe’s inland waterways, even in challenging conditions,” says Concordia Damen managing director Chris Kornet.

Features include spud poles and mooring winches for better positioning and stability; ballast systems; and wave protection and beach-landing capabilities along with the coupling pontoons, which provide more buoyancy ‘where complete roll-on and roll-off control is paramount’.

The pontoon will be used with Nicolaas van der Wees, a shallow draft pusher tug, for transporting heavy cargo in conditions which could include low water levels, narrow locks, low bridges and tight river passages, the company says.

The pontoons are scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year.