Damen wins Combi Freighter contract

Damen Shipyards has signed a deal with Turkey’s Feyz Group for three Damen Combi Freighter 3850s. The flexible general cargo ships, with a deadweight of 3,850 tonnes, will be built at the Damen Yichang Shipyard in China.

The recently redesigned CF 3850s have a length of 89.7m and a 12.5m beam. The tank top is designed for cargoes of up to 15 tonnes per m2, and the ships have capacity for 108 containers in the hold and 64 on deck. Movable bulkheads enable partial tween deck flexibility and facilitate a wide range of cargo options.

Damen claims that the hydrodynamic properties of the CF 3850’s hull reduce resistance and power requirements compared with similar vessels. The 1,104-kW engine is fuel-efficient but still allows speeds of more than ten knots in headwinds when fully loaded, the company said.

Damen Cargo Vessels Commercial Director, Remko Bouma, commented: "Turkey’s shipping operators represent the largest fleet in the world of cargo vessels of this size. So we are delighted that Feyz Group, a leading Turkish ship management company, has chosen Damen Group for its latest freighters."

His colleague, Boran Bekbulat, added: "This is a significant moment for the market, marking the first time that a Turkish ship operator has bought new build cargo vessels. It will be a pleasure to see these vessels calling in at European ports under the excellent management of Feyz Group."

The shipowner’s general manager, Engin Aynaci, said: "We see this moment as a start of a long-term relationship with Damen."