The shipping company Bernd Sibum, based in Haren an der Ems, is investing in its fleet and ordering a series of shortsea newbuildings from Damen Shipyards.
The family-owned company has ordered four Combi Freighter (CF) 3850 vessels from the Dutch shipyard group. The ships are to be delivered at the beginning of 2026, Damen announced.
Sibum has been a customer of Damen for some time. Before placing the order, the shipping company obtained feedback from other operators of the CF3850 and was “impressed by the operational efficiency of the vessels and the positive experience reports”, it said.
According to the official Damen description, the CF 3850 type ship has a carrying capacity of 3,850 tons, is 89.7 metres long, 12.5 metres wide and has a draught of 5.48 metres as well as a hold volume of 5,250 m³. It is something of a bestseller for the Dutch. Several German shipping companies have also ordered newbuildings of this type and put them into service, including the shipping companies Gerdes, Blue Fin, Elbe-Ems and Wessels.
Sibum gets further development of the CF 3850
Bernd Sibum, Managing Director of Reederei Bernd Sibum, said today on the occasion of the newbuilding contract: “We are delighted to be working with the Damen Shipyards Group on the construction of four new vessels. These are upgraded versions of the CF 3850 model with a focus on energy efficiency and emission reduction. Together, we have ensured that these vessels are future-proofed and can adopt upcoming innovations as soon as they are ready for the marine market.” According to Damen, the units “feature an improved design platform that offers a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency.”
They are hybrid-capable, can run on biofuels and can be equipped with wind-assist technology. The vessels will also have a range of batteries that can be used by the bow thruster for peak load operation and port operations. “To further increase efficiency and reduce emissions in the future, they are equipped with a battery-powered propulsion system and an improved shore power connection. Thanks to this preparation, these adjustments can be made without major conversions or significant downtime,” says the shipyard group. Sibum called on “the ports and the shipping industry in general” to develop and implement the necessary infrastructure on land.
“We greatly appreciate the trust that shipping company Bernd Sibum has placed in us to support the renewal of their fleet,” says Remko Bouma, Commercial Director of Damen Cargo Vessels. “We firmly believe that the hybrid-capable CF 3850 will support the shipping company’s business and shortsea shipping well into the future. These reliable and modular vessels are a smart investment in the future of sustainable shipping. We are building them to last.”
The freighters are being built at the Damen Yichang shipyard in China. After delivery, they will be deployed in Northwest European shortsea shipping, where fleet renewal is essential.
