The Damen shipyard group is launching a new design of its well-known shortsea concept “Combi Freighter”.
The shipbuilder announced the market launch of the Combi Freighter (CF) 5000 ICE during the Europort 2025 trade fair in Rotterdam. The scalable ship type is the first ship in a new series of ice-going cargo ships, according to the market launch.
The Combi Freighter series is one of the most popular designs in the shortsea and MPP market. Its customers include numerous German shipping companies, such as Sibum, HS Schiffahrt, Gerdes, Elbe-Ems and Wessels. Recently, there has been strong competition from the new “Eco Freighter”, which was developed by Groot Ship Design and the Hamburg broker Toepfer Transport and has triggered several dozen orders. However, various owners still rely on the Damen type.
Remko Bouma, Commercial Director of Damen Cargo Vessels, explains the idea behind the new ship design: “Our aim was to use the experience and success we have gained with our cargo ships to create a platform that enables economical navigation in ice. The CF 5000 is at home both on open water and in ice and offers both the optimum cargo capacity and the high efficiency of a conventional vessel.”
Both the previously built CF 3850 and the “conventional” CF 5000 vessels have been incorporated into the development. However, the design has been optimized, according to the Dutch company. This included a slight lengthening of the hull and an increase in draught with the aim of increasing the carrying capacity. “Although the changes are only minor, they have led to a significant increase in load capacity,” it continues.
The CF 5000 ICE reportedly complies with Swedish-Finnish ice class regulations and can meet the latest Finnish flag regulations. As such, the ship offers space for “high-quality accommodation”, including a sauna and fitness room. There is a “comprehensive winterization package” that is said to be suitable for operation in temperatures as low as -30°C. The power required for ice-class operations is generated by a hybrid PTO/PTI system, rather than the vessel’s main engine. “In this way, the ship can be operated under normal conditions with a relatively small, highly efficient propulsion system and only receives a boost in propulsion power in a sustainable manner when required,” say the Damen developers. There are also options for installing batteries and connecting to shore power.
Nothing is known about official orders yet. However, Damen says it plans to start building the first CF 5000 ICE “soon” – but not in the Netherlands, but at one of Damen’s shipyards in Asia, just like all other Combi Freighters. It should be available by mid-2027.
