BWB Wins Contract to Build 30m Electric Catamaran for DAB Vloot

Baltic Workboats (BWB) of Estonia has been selected to build a new 30 metre electric catamaran for Flemish government-owned DAB Vloot, a move that updates the Scheldt passenger network with a fully electric vessel and tighter operating economics.

The new ferry is a sister ship to Marnix Van Sint-Aldegonde and Op Stroom, which BWB delivered to DAB Vloot in 2021 and 2022. Designed for operations on the Scheldt River, the vessel will carry 150 passengers and 150 bicycles, reflecting the region's heavy bike-and-boat commuter patterns and the emphasis on short, frequent crossings rather than long open-water runs. Delivery is scheduled for September 2027.

Technically the passenger catamaran will use a fully electric drivetrain supported by an energy storage system supplied by Corvus Energy and propulsion machinery from Danfoss. Solar panels will be fitted to reduce operating costs by covering auxiliary power demand, which can cut shore-charging load during daytime runs. The vessel's top speed is 9.7 knots with a cruising speed of 7.6 knots and a maximum endurance of three hours on a single full charge of the ESS. At cruising speed that equates to roughly 22.8 nautical miles of continuous operation before recharge is required, a practical figure for planners mapping schedules and turnaround times on the Scheldt corridors.

BWB will install an integrated alarm, monitoring and control system to streamline onboard management and permit operation with only three crewmembers. That smaller crew requirement, combined with electrification and solar-assisted auxiliaries, should reduce fuel and staffing cost lines for DAB Vloot while meeting regional emissions targets.

For operators, the contract signals continued confidence in electric catamarans for inland services and reinforces supplier relationships with Corvus Energy and Danfoss in this niche. For dock owners and local authorities, the vessel’s three-hour endurance and battery profile underline the need to coordinate shore charging windows and infrastructure upgrades ahead of the 2027 delivery. For cyclists and commuters who rely on mixed-mode trips across the Scheldt, the 150-bike capacity keeps the door open for large volumes of pedal-and-boat traffic without sacrificing emissions gains.

The selection of BWB extends a proven production line for DAB Vloot and underscores the practical shift toward battery-electric propulsion on short-sea and river routes. Expect follow-up details on charging arrangements and route assignments as DAB Vloot and BWB finalize plans for trials and commissioning in the run-up to September 2027.