Damen Showcases New Water Bus
At a recent event at its headquarters in Gorinchem, Damen Shipyards demonstrated its next generation composite Water Bus, the 2407, to an invited international audience. Built from FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) the new class will give operators reduced fuel consumption, less maintenance, no corrosion or fatigue problems and a durable structure, the shipbuilder said. Passengers will enjoy journeys at speeds of up to 21 knots that are safe, quiet and with minimal vibration. The Water Bus design is available in versions from 16-24 meters, capable of carrying from 20 to 120 passengers.
Designed as a slender catamaran, the Water Bus series is suited for regular, intensive commuting operations on busy waterways. Its manoeuvrability via a simple joystick control brings added safety on congested waterways and the twin hulls produce extremely low volumes of wash, boosting fuel efficiency and minimizing it impact on other vessels. Passengers benefit from a spacious boarding platform and can enjoy unimpeded, panoramic views of their surroundings.
The vessel can be easily adapted to specific customer requirements and a wide range of configurations are available, from commuting and shuttle to sightseeing and dinner cruising. The high-quality vacuum infusion build process is both fast to execute and exceptionally strong, and power is provided by twin, forward facing, double-screw podded propulsion units with underwater exhausts to further cut down on noise and vibration.
As part of the event, guests were invited to experience the Water Bus and its features firsthand with a short trip on the Boven-Merwede waterway. The warm sunshine, pleasant surroundings and good company made it all the more enjoyable. Reactions from the guests included comments such as “wow, it’s fast”, “it’s so spacious” and “I really like the panoramic windows”. Other favourable remarks pointed out the high maneuvrability, the comfortable seating, the high standard of the interior and how quiet it was when underway. Its modular construction, which allows the midsection to be of varying lengths, was also much commented on.
The Water Bus series will be built at Damen’s specialist composite facility at Damen Shipyards Antalya, in Turkey, with fast delivery times possible due to the construction methods and materials.