ROYAL BODEWES BUILDS ‘ALL-PON SHIP’

Pon companies deliver comprehensive solutions including engines and drives

COLLABORATION

Blood is thicker than water – this expression has a special resonance for both Royal Bodewes, a 200-year-old family-run shipbuilding company based in Hoogezand (the Netherlands), and for Pon Power and Bolier (both owned by the Pon family). As if to emphasize this, a number of Pon companies joined forces to offer a comprehensive engine and propulsion solution for a new cargo ship built by Royal Bodewes. The end result was the first-ever ‘all-Pon ship’ built by Bodewes.

WE BUILD SHIPS!

Anyone wondering about what Royal Bodewes actually does will find all the answers on the company’s website – WE BUILD SHIPS! it tells visitors in cheerful bold capitals. It characterizes the enthusiasm that drives this family-run company – established in the 19th century and still headed by a Bodewes – that builds a wide range of cargo ships and other specialist ships. It is currently working on the NB748 – a 47,550 ton vessel able to enter shallow ports and, if necessary, to navigate inland waterways thanks to its width and shallow draught – for shipowners Rederij Tasman from Harlingen (the Netherlands)

“This ship is, in fact, a reworking of an existing design”, says Johan Tiemersma, Project Manager at Royal Bodewes. “The tonnage of the initial model was 4,400 tons, allowing it to actually ‘go in’. For that purpose, it was equipped with a smaller propeller turning inside a nozzle. We proceeded to extend this design to create a 5,400-ton ship. We built approximately 20 ships of this series. The 748 version has the original length but the underwater hull has been improved and we selected larger propeller, also operating inside a nozzle. Because Rederij Tasman regularly carries project cargo, such as wind turbine wings, the deckhouse was moved back on this particular ship to create more deck space. This idea was developed and fine-tuned with the client.”

EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP

And just as in practically all Bodewes-built ships, the NB748 will be equipped with a MaK engine by Pon subsidiary Bolier. “Our excellent relationship with Bodewes goes back decades”, says Leo van der Graaff, Project Manager at Bolier. “They use MaK engines in practically all their ships, with a Cat Propulsion (previously Berg) propeller shaft assembly, a combination that has always worked well.”

JOHAN TIEMERSMA

Project Manager Royal Bodewes 

“This was the first time for us to be offered the complete Pon package like that” 

OPPORTUNITY TO CREAT AN 'ALL PON' SHIP

Although it may seem there’s nothing new to report about the NB748, Bjorn Hoefnagels, Product Manager at Cat Propulsion, was very excited to receive the request for a shaft and propeller for this ship. “Pon Power and Bolier had been hoping for an opportunity to create an ‘all-Pon’ ship – one with engines, onboard power systems and shaft and propeller supplied by Caterpillar companies”, he says. “Together with Bolier, which already has a long-standing relationship with Bodewes, we tried to find out if Bodewes would be open to the idea, and it turned out they were. We then started working on ideas and calculations, and eventually presented a proposal for the complete package, together with Ron Koning of Bolier and Taco Boorsma of Pon Power.

FACTS &
FIGURES

COMPLETE PACKAGE

“In addition to the main engine, shaft and propeller, the offer also included two generator sets for onboard power and an emergency set”, says Johan Tiemersma of Royal Bodewes. “This was the first time for us to be offered a complete package like that. It was a well-thought-out and

comprehensive plan, with an attractive price tag to boot. Our regular partner Bolier would remain our point of contact during the project. All in all, we saw plenty of reasons to accept the proposal and give this approach a try.”

LEO VAN DER GRAAFF

Project Manager Bolier

“It’s great to be able to strengthen our partnership like this”

THREE GENERATOR SETS

“We at Bolier are very excited about this opportunity to strengthen our partnership”, adds Leo van der Graaff. De MaK engine was scheduled to be installed in mid-October, shortly to be followed by the three generator sets. The launch of the NB748 is scheduled to take place around the turn of the year, and the ship’s completion is expected in February.

SCOOP

An ‘all-Pon’ ship – one with engines, onboard power systems and shaft and propeller supplied by Caterpillar companies.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SOLUTION

Bjorn Hoefnagels: “On behalf of the Pon Companies, we’re very happy with this joint project. For the client, it’s a big plus to know they’re getting a state-of-the-art solution with the convenience of a single point of contact for the complete package. For us as a consortium, it’s nice to be able to demonstrate that our joint proposition is not only technologically sound but can also be implemented extremely cost-effectively. All in all, it’s turned out to be a classic win-win situation. And we’ve already received repeat orders for this type of ship, so it’s a big success as far as we’re concerned!”

COLLABORATION

ROYAL BODEWES BUILDS ‘ALL-PON SHIP’

Pon companies deliver comprehensive solutions including engines and drives

Blood is thicker than water – this expression has a special resonance for both Royal Bodewes, a 200-year-old family-run shipbuilding company based in Hoogezand (the Netherlands), and for Pon Power and Bolier (both owned by the Pon family). As if to emphasize this, a number of Pon companies joined forces to offer a comprehensive engine and propulsion solution for a new cargo ship built by Royal Bodewes. The end result was the first-ever ‘all-Pon ship’ built by Bodewes.

WE BUILD SHIPS!

Anyone wondering about what Royal Bodewes actually does will find all the answers on the company’s website – WE BUILD SHIPS! it tells visitors in cheerful bold capitals. It characterizes the enthusiasm that drives this family-run company – established in the 19th century and still headed by a Bodewes – that builds a wide range of cargo ships and other specialist ships. It is currently working on the NB748 – a 47,550 ton vessel able to enter shallow ports and, if necessary, to navigate inland waterways thanks to its width and shallow draught – for shipowners Rederij Tasman from Harlingen (the Netherlands)

“This ship is, in fact, a reworking of an existing design”, says Johan Tiemersma, Project Manager at Royal Bodewes. “The tonnage of the initial model was 4,400 tons, allowing it to actually ‘go in’. For that purpose, it was equipped with a smaller propeller turning inside a nozzle. We proceeded to extend this design to create a 5,400-ton ship. We built approximately 20 ships of this series. The 748 version has the original length but the underwater hull has been improved and we selected larger propeller, also operating inside a nozzle. Because Rederij Tasman regularly carries project cargo, such as wind turbine wings, the deckhouse was moved back on this particular ship to create more deck space. This idea was developed and fine-tuned with the client.”

“This was the first time for us to be offered the complete Pon package like that” 

Project Manager Royal Bodewes 

JOHAN TIEMERSMA

EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP

And just as in practically all Bodewes-built ships, the NB748 will be equipped with a MaK engine by Pon subsidiary Bolier. “Our excellent relationship with Bodewes goes back decades”, says Leo van der Graaff, Project Manager at Bolier. “They use MaK engines in practically all their ships, with a Cat Propulsion (previously Berg) propeller shaft assembly, a combination that has always worked well.”

OPPORTUNITY TO CREAT AN 'ALL PON' SHIP

Although it may seem there’s nothing new to report about the NB748, Bjorn Hoefnagels, Product Manager at Cat Propulsion, was very excited to receive the request for a shaft and propeller for this ship. “Pon Power and Bolier had been hoping for an opportunity to create an ‘all-Pon’ ship – one with engines, onboard power systems and shaft and propeller supplied by Caterpillar companies”, he says. “Together with Bolier, which already has a long-standing relationship with Bodewes, we tried to find out if Bodewes would be open to the idea, and it turned out they were. We then started working on ideas and calculations, and eventually presented a proposal for the complete package, together with Ron Koning of Bolier and Taco Boorsma of Pon Power.

COMPLETE PACKAGE

“In addition to the main engine, shaft and propeller, the offer also included two generator sets for onboard power and an emergency set”, says Johan Tiemersma of Royal Bodewes. “This was the first time for us to be offered a complete package like that. It was a well-thought-out and comprehensive plan, with an attractive price tag to boot. Our regular partner Bolier would remain our point of contact during the project. All in all, we saw plenty of reasons to accept the proposal and give this approach a try.”

SCOOP

An ‘all-Pon’ ship – one with engines, onboard power systems and shaft and propeller supplied by Caterpillar companies.

“It’s great to be able to strengthen our partnership like this”

Project Manager Bolier

LEO VAN DER GRAAFF

THREE GENERATOR SETS

“We at Bolier are very excited about this opportunity to strengthen our partnership”, adds Leo van der Graaff. De MaK engine was scheduled to be installed in mid-October, shortly to be followed by the three generator sets. The launch of the NB748 is scheduled to take place around the turn of the year, and the ship’s completion is expected in February.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SOLUTION

Bjorn Hoefnagels: “On behalf of the Pon Companies, we’re very happy with this joint project. For the client, it’s a big plus to know they’re getting a state-of-the-art solution with the convenience of a single point of contact for the complete package. For us as a consortium, it’s nice to be able to demonstrate that our joint proposition is not only technologically sound but can also be implemented extremely cost-effectively. All in all, it’s turned out to be a classic win-win situation. And we’ve already received repeat orders for this type of ship, so it’s a big success as far as we’re concerned!”

FACTS & FIGURES

CUSTOMER:
Royal Bodewes, Hoogezand (the Netherlands)

SPECIALIZED FIELD:
Cargo ships, cement carriers, LNF and product tankers

CLIENT:
Rederij Tasman, Harlingen (the Netherlands)

SHIP PROJECT NAME:
NB748

ENGINES:
1 x MaK 6M25C main engine,
2 x Cat C4.4 generator set,
1 x Cat C7.1 generator set

MAIN PROPULSION:
1 x Cat Propulsion main propeller MPP850

Pon Power News

The online magazine of Pon Power, the Caterpillar dealer for diesel and gas engines and generators. In this magazine we keep you up to date on the latest projects, new products & services and technical innovations.
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