Damen Shipyards Group has announced the latest addition to its cargo vessels portfolio. The Container Feeder (CFe) 1100 has been launched in response to market demand for more efficient, flexible feedering capabilities for regional and international shipping. It has been developed with a firm focus on fuel efficiency, including preparation for future fuels.

Fuel-efficient

The CFe 1100 draws on the success of existing Damen vessels including the CFe 800 and the renowned Combi Freighter (CF) series. Like these vessels, its hull is designed to be fuel efficient, provide maximum flexibility and be ready for the years ahead.

The CFe 1100 is equipped with a hybrid PTO/PTI system as standard. In PTO mode, the main engine efficiently generates electrical power for onboard consumers, including the vessel's reefer container load, reducing the need to operate auxiliary generator sets. PTI functionality completes the hybrid system with electric boost capability, enabling increased top speed when required, enhanced manoeuvring flexibility, and allowing the main engine to remain optimised for economical operating speed and minimum fuel consumption during normal service.

Eye on the future

The vessel design has been prepared for future conversion to methanol fuel. The engine room features space reservations and system arrangements to facilitate conversion at a later date. Additionally, while maximising container intake in the initial configuration, the aft cargo hold arrangement has been developed to allow installation of a methanol tank in future. The fuel preparation arrangement will be verified by the DNV classification society.

The design is also prepared for battery integration through a separate, dedicated battery room. With this, the vessel is ready for both battery and methanol propulsion, simultaneously.

To increase efficiency, the CFe 1100 can also be installed with the Damen Air Cavity System (DACS). This patented air lubrication system generates cushions of air between the hull and the water underneath the flat-bottomed area, resulting in a significant reduction in resistance, lowering fuel consumption and emissions significantly.

A shore power connection offers further emissions reduction in port, while the CFe 1100 also has the option to include energy-saving devices such as the Damen Duct, pre-swirl fins and flow optimisers around the propeller and rudder.

Flexibility for every box

The cargo holds feature a fixed cell guide system specifically developed to accommodate 20-, 40- and 45-foot containers within the same arrangement. This allows operators to efficiently load a wide variety of container combinations while maintaining maximum cargo intake and simplifying loading operations.

The deck layout has likewise been optimised to maximise container capacity. The positioning of the 45-foot container bays provides the flexibility to efficiently load alternative container sizes without compromising intake. This enables operators to adapt to changing cargo mixes while maintaining excellent utilisation of the vessel's available cargo space. The vessel’s hydraulically operated pivoting hatch covers enable rapid loading and unloading of cargo.

Port handling capabilities

The CFe 1100 has been designed to operate efficiently in a wide variety of ports and terminals. Excellent manoeuvrability contributes to safe and efficient port operations while reducing turnaround times.

To achieve this, the vessel is equipped with a high-performance flap rudder, providing enhanced steering effectiveness at both low and service speeds. In addition, a powerful bow thruster supports precise manoeuvring in confined port environments, while an optional stern thruster can further improve handling and positioning capabilities when required.

Together, these features provide vessel operators with the flexibility and control needed to operate efficiently across a broad range of trading routes and port conditions.

Quiet comfort

Further efforts have been made to ensure crew well-being. The vessel design complies with the latest safety regulations and crew comfort standards. Noise and vibration, for example, have been kept to a minimum.

Onboard personnel are accommodated in single cabins with modern furnishings and a high-speed internet connection. Damen has chosen an aft accommodation arrangement for the CFe 1100 in order to deliver superior seakeeping performance, improved crew comfort, higher operational availability, and reduced weather-related operational limitations. As the vessel is designed around homogeneous 14-ton/TEU loading and a highly optimised cargo arrangement, the impact on cargo intake is limited while the operational benefits are significant.

The vessel’s 1A Finnish-Swedish ice class capabilities further broaden its operational range. The ice class enables the CFe 1100 to sail in first-year ice up to 1 metre thick.

Suited to the sector

Nard Brandsma, Manager Design of Damen Cargo Vessels, said, “We are very proud of this latest development in our portfolio. In the development of the CFe 1100 we have applied the experience of building cargo vessels over many years, including the valuable input we have received from our clients over successive generations of product development. As such, we are confident that it represents a solution suited to the needs of the sector, offering increased flexibility and efficiency for feedering operations. We are excited to share this latest development with the market and looking forward to receiving feedback from vessel operators.”

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