The Explorer is sailing again after a successful trial run on 2 July. For more than five weeks, this ship was in the covered ship lift at Machinefabriek De Waal for a major conversion, supervised by developer Huib van Dijke.

Even though this type of conversion is second nature to Van Dijke, this was the largest conversion he has ever supervised. "Everything was removed; at one point, there was only a fish scale left," he says with a smile.

Huib van Dijke and Jacco Strijker in the Explorer's engine room.

The complete conversion consisted of:

• The installation of an Easyflow rudder system, equipped with three rudders, with the centre rudder designed as a 'spoiler'. This ensures great manoeuvrability in shallow and narrow waters.
• New jet pipe; repositioned (further away from the ship).
• New, larger propeller (jet pipe & propeller supplied by Scheepsschroeven Reparatie Kampen).
• New propeller shaft line (De Waal) with eco-seals, i.e. Green Award-certified Stuwa© propeller shaft seals.
• A ship form adjustment for optimal water flow to the propeller (8.5 metre tunnel adjustment).
• New Caterpillar Stage V engine, built in by CCM3.
• New reverse gear with modified reduction for optimal propeller efficiency.

The Explorer's 'fish angle'.

Significant savings

According to Van Dijke, the owner of the MS Explorer, Jacco Strijker, can expect significant savings after this conversion. The skipper came into contact with Huib van Dijke at Scheepsschroeven Reparatie Kampen, where he initially went to have a new propeller fitted. An employee there asked Van Dijke if he would like to come and take a look. He saw that significant savings could be achieved with several modifications. This is where the seed was sown for this enormous conversion.

Subsidy

"I received a subsidy through the Energy Investment Allowance for modifying the entire powertrain. I received a subsidy for the engine through the Sustainable Inland Waterway Vessels scheme. That subsidy convinced me to go ahead with this conversion. It is, of course, a lot of money." The substantial savings he has been promised (more on that later) are certainly interesting to him. “Gas oil is only getting more expensive.” Strijker can hardly believe that the predicted savings will materialise; only time will tell. More on this later...