Shortsea market leader Wagenborg is expanding its fleet with the next “Easymax” newbuild: “Alexia” has water under her keel.
The 14,000-tonner was launched at the Dutch shipyard Royal Niestern Sander for the Wagenborg shipping company.
It is now the fourth ship in the so-called EasyMax series. “Special thanks go to Her Majesty Queen Máxima, who christened the ship in a worldwide unique drone ceremony during DelfSail,” reads a statement from the Dutch company.
“Alexia” follows the sisters “Egbert Wagenborg”, “Maxima” and “Amalia”. At the naming ceremony, Queen Máxima performed the world’s first naming and christening by drone. At the push of a button, the drone flew a mile ahead to the Niestern Sander shipyard, where the EasyMax ship was nearing completion.
With a load capacity of more than 14,000 tons and a cargo hold of 625,000 cubic feet, a very efficient ship has been developed together with the shipyard. According to the shipping company, it is the largest type of ship ever built in the north of the Netherlands on the landside of the dykes, as stated at the delivery of the “Maxima Wagenborg”. With a length of 149.95 metres, a width of 15.90 metres and a draught of 8.60 metres, the newbuild has the maximum possible dimensions for the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard.
Wagenborg to be commissioned at the end of 2024
With an installed power of less than 3,000 kW, this ship has an “extremely low” fuel consumption. “Our focus on energy efficiency has resulted in a saving of over 60% of CO2 emissions compared to other vessels in the industry,” Wagenborg said in a statement.
The multipurpose vessel with ice class 1A has two large box-shaped holds and “a very high capacity for heavy or light cargo, timber and paper as well as open-top cargo”. However, it does not have its own cranes installed.
The fourth “EasyMax” will be commissioned in the coming weeks and tested at sea by the end of the year. It will then be integrated into the fleet, which now comprises more than 160 vessels between 2,800 and 22,000 dwt. Wagenborg is active in the shortsea, MPP and offshore markets, as well as in the tugboat business.
