Damen Shipyards Group has completed construction of its first Waterbus 2907 Electric, a fully electric vessel designed to provide sustainable public transport in urban areas, operating with extremely low levels of wash and zero emissions.
Damen is now offering the vessel for immediate sale or lease as it aims to support wide access to sustainable solutions. For the development of the vessel, Damen received a sustainable shipbuilding subsidy (Subsidie Duurzame Scheepsbouw, SDS) from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, RVO). The fund aims to stimulate innovative, experimental technologies to promote sustainability in shipbuilding and conversion.
Damen initially built a series of hybrid Waterbuses 2907, prepared for conversion to full electric at a later date. This first fully electric version is an evolved design that draws on lessons learned in the construction of the first generation. This can be seen, for example, in the improved ergonomics in the vessel’s wheelhouse and 1000 VDC system architecture.
The Waterbus 2907 features an optimised, efficient hull that Damen has developed together with MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands). During development, the focus was on creating a design with the optimal sizing of the main dimensions, including the hull length and the spacing between the catamaran hulls. As a result of this work, the vessel features slender hulls, each with a beam of just 1.1m. Carbon fibre has been incorporated into the hull to reduce weight, compensating for the added weight of the batteries. The low weight of the hull ensures that the wake produced by the vessel is minimised. As a result, disruption to other waterway users and infrastructure is also minimal. The Waterbus 2907 Electric features azimuth thrusters that allow for easy manoeuvrability, even in tight areas on busy waterways.
In line with its practice of serial production of proven solutions, Damen, together with its partners, has developed a standard DC system and battery cabinets. This has resulted in a 1000V system that allows for rapid recharging. The vessel uses charging sockets proven in operation in the automotive sector. It is prepared for the latest Megawatt Charging System (MCS), developed for the heavy-duty road vehicle sector. Damen has planned a full test later in 2026 for MCS, which will allow the Waterbus 2907 Electric to charge more rapidly.
Damen says it has been a frontrunner in the construction of electric vessels, including several examples for the public transport sector delivered around the world. The company offers a full service scope, delivering not only the vessel but, when required, also the charging infrastructure. Damen’s involvement in vessel electrification has seen the company participate in the Charging Energy Hub project. In this, Damen collaborates with 30 industry stakeholders towards the development of battery charging facilities to offset the high demand placed on the grid and the resultant congestion.
Damen Product Manager Fast and City Ferries, Lodewijk van Os, said: “The development of the Waterbus 2907 Electric has been a fine balancing act. This is a vessel that will be in constant use, facing multiple mooring and boarding moments every hour of the day. As such, it needs to be robust. At the same time, however, it will operate in an environment where sustainability is paramount. We’ve put a lot of effort into creating a platform that is efficient in operation, producing zero emissions, and optimally comfortable for passengers. Electrification offers a clear route to increasingly sustainable maritime operations. This is particularly relevant for the waterborne public transportation sector, where new, greener connections will increase the attractiveness of services for both tourists and commuters alike.”
Damen Design and Proposal Engineer, Public Transport, Jan van Ooijen, added: “There is a lot of experimentation taking place in electric waterborne public transportation currently. We see a lot of concepts in development. We wanted to take this to the next level of maturity with the creation of a solution that offers a reliable, sustainable service.”
Image: Damen Waterbus 2907 Electric (source: Damen Shipyards)
