EST-Floattech has received an order to supply marine battery systems totalling 9.7MWh for 15 new river cruise vessels operating on the Danube and in the Black Sea region.
Dutch system integrator Van Tiem Elektro selected the company’s Octopus High Energy systems for vessels being outfitted at De Gerlien van Tiem in Druten, the Netherlands, and Vahali Shipyards in Ghent, Belgium.
The vessels are being built for several cruise operators, including AmaWaterways and Uniworld. Each will receive 650kWh of battery capacity, giving a precise combined capacity of 9.75MWh across the series.
The systems will be used for partial electric sailing, onboard hotel loads and emergency back-up power. EST-Floattech did not disclose the cell chemistry, power ratings or battery suppliers for the project.
EST-Floattech uses an internally developed BMS
EST-Floattech said its Octopus platform combines internally developed module technology and battery management software with a string controller. The controller uses Modbus communications to integrate the battery system with other equipment aboard the vessel.
The system holds type approval from classification societies DNV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, the American Bureau of Shipping and RINA.
Work has begun on the first hulls, with deliveries across the 15-vessel programme scheduled to continue until 2030. EST-Floattech said the contract was among its largest orders to date in the river cruise market.
Van Tiem Elektro previously used the Octopus platform on tankers and river cruise vessels, including Solara and Astara.
Marinus van der Putte, sales manager at EST-Floattech, said: “This order is built on mutual trust. Van Tiem Elektro is always solution-oriented, which makes them a genuine pleasure to work with. We’ve worked together before, and that long-term relationship, combined with their knowledge of our Octopus platform and their expertise in system integration, made this a natural next step in the river cruise market for both companies.”
Maarten Soetekouw, co-owner of Van Tiem Elektro, said: “This is one of the largest electrification projects we’ve taken on: 9.7MWh across 15 vessels is a real step forward for sustainable river cruising, and we’re proud to be delivering it.
“EST-Floattech’s Octopus platform is a system our engineers already know well, and that experience gives us real confidence on a project of this scale.”
