TIM eMagazine Vol.4 Issue 2
Damen cuts steel for
new Day Cruise Vessel
B
uilding for an inland location with Damen Technical
Cooperation
Windermere Lake Cruises currently runs a fleet of
sixteen lake cruising vessels: three traditional ‘steamers’
– each with a capacity of more than 350 passengers – as
well as other traditional and modern launches. The fleet
operates all year round, taking passengers on tours, day
trips and evening functions on the Lake District’s largest
lake, Lake Windermere. The role of the company in the local economy
cannot be overstated: more than 1.6 million passenger journeys are
taken every year, making Windermere Lake Cruises one the most popular
attractions in the UK.
A one-off vessel
To accommodate this consistent and extensive growth in visitor
numbers, and enhance the sustainable transport offering on Windermere,
Bill Bewley, Chairman Windermere Lake Cruises explains that the
company felt that it was time to increase the size of the fleet. Assisted by
James Fisher PLC, Windermere Lake Cruises first approached UK-based
shipyards. “However, it soon became clear in the procurement process
that the shipyard with the depth of experience to undertake this project,
within the cost and timescale requirements, was Damen,” he adds.
The resulting design and construction contract with Damen detailed
numerous specifications relating to the rather extraordinary inland
location of Lake Windermere.
Looking the part
In terms of design, says Damen Jan van Ooijen, Design & Proposal
Engineer Ferries, it was important that this new ‘one-of-a-kind’ vessel
34 metre
long Day
Cruise
Vessel
for Wind-
ermere
Lake
Cruises
Building for a (protected)
inland location
Arjen van Elk. Sales Manager UK,
Damen Shipyards Group; Bill Bewley,
Chairman, Windermere Lake Cruises
not only matches the looks of the existing fleet and heritage of this area,
but also stands out as being a technologically modern lake cruising
vessel. “This diesel-electric vessel – to be named Swift – will have four-
star comfort seating capacity for 300 passengers,” he says. “It will be fully
accessible by wheelchair and the top deck can be opened or closed,
depending on what the weather decides.”
Building for a (protected) inland location
The fact that the Swift will operate in an inaccessible inland location and
that the Lake District is a UK National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage
Site means that Damen will combine two of its shipbuilding methods to
ensure maximum possible care and respect for the local environment.
“Building a ship is typically a very noisy process, so it is obviously not
possible to build this vessel from scratch on location,” comments Damen
Design & Proposal Engineer Maarten Lamboo. “Therefore, to optimise
the production process and limit local disturbance, we are prefabricating
the hull and superstructure in sections at Damen Shipyards Kozle in
This diesel-elec-
tric vessel to be
named “Swift”
will four star
comfort seating
capacity for 300
passengers
Poland. And then, under the scope of Damen Technical Cooperation
[DTC] – which can be briefly described as building any Damen vessel at
any facility in the world – we will assemble these sections at a lakeside
location next to the Lakes Aquarium and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite
Steam Railway.” Once completed, Damen will transport the newly built
vessel to the water by multi-wheeled vehicle, and lift it into the water for
its final outfitting and trials.
“The Lake District is such a special and beautiful location – and we
are so proud to be building a vessel that will sail here for generations
to come,” adds Damen UK Sales Manager Arjen van Elk. “This is made
possible by implementing our DTC construction methods. Building a
vessel for an inland location in this way is actually unique in Europe.”
www.damen.com/en
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