Concordia Damen has won the contract to build a new training vessel for Rotterdam-based maritime training institution STC Group
Damen said STC intends for Ab Initio to be "sustainable", meaning the vessel will feature solar cells and a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system complete with battery pack.
Concordia Damen financial manager Tim van Berchum said “We are very pleased to be asked by STC Group to build their new training vessel. We are proud to be playing a role in developing the next generation of maritime personnel. Additionally, Ab Initio is notable for its sustainable characteristics. We see this contract, therefore, as a testimony to the work we have done previously in sustainable vessel construction.”
This year, Damen unveiled a sustainable prototype OSV designed to reduce emissions and its new air cavity system is designed to do the same for cruise vessels.
Concordia Damen will outfit Ab Initio at its yard in Werkendam, the Netherlands. The vessel is scheduled for completion in 2022.
Ab Initio will replace STC’s two older vessels – Princess Christina and Princess Beatrix – which have been in service for over 50 years. The new vessel will be used to train students on maritime courses.
The Damen group has made executive changes in recent months. In addition to appointing Arnout Damen chief executive of Damen Shipyards who officially took over operations in January 2020, Marc van Heyningen was appointed Damen Shipyards Group chief operating officer in March 2020.
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