Damen signs to deliver two freighters to Belgium shipping firm

Damen Shipyards has signed a contract with Belgian shipping company Fast Lines Belgium for the delivery of two Damen Combi Freighter 3850 (CF 3850).

Fast Lines says it has chosen the CF 3850 based on its performance as the ‘cleanest and most economical vessel available in its class’. It has the lowest EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) in the short sea cargo vessel market. 

Prior to placing its order with Damen, Fast Lines says it reviewed all the options available to achieve minimal emissions in an economic manner, including looking at alternative biofuels as well as the latest advances in design and efficiency.

“These will be our first new-build vessels and we are confident that the Damen CF 3850 vessels will fit like a glove in the Fast Lines Belgium’s business,” says Fast Lines’ managing director, Catrien Scheers.

“Not only are they economical and efficient, our customers will also be able to see for themselves just how low their fuel consumption and therefore their emissions are. This will give us a valuable commercial advantage.”

In addition to a new hull design and an efficient and economic main engine, the vessels will be fitted with Daman’s Triton Remote monitoring system, which is said to deliver real-time information on fuel consumption and carbon emissions to the shoreside team as well as the ships’ crew.

Luc Joos, sales manager Belgium at Damen Shipyards, says: “We are delighted to welcome Fast Lines Belgium into the Damen family. They reviewed all the options available to them in detail before opting for the CF 3850. We are confident that their new vessels will deliver the performance that they and their customers seek.”

In August (2023), Damen signed a contract with UK Dredging to deliver a Shoalbuster 2711 Water Injection Dredger (WID).