In May 2010, SNITS received Board approval

for a newbuilding programme for its European

inland fleet. After several intensive rounds of
negotiations and evaluation of the various
shipyards, it was decided to continue the final
negotiations with the Begej Shipyard in
Zrenjanin, Serbia. In October 2010, the building
contract was signed.
In its six-decade history Shipyard Begej has
produced nearly 300 inland waterway vessels.
In the past 24years, six major projects were
finished, including the construction of 18 inland
chemical tankers.
In 2005, Shipping Group Mercurius from
the Netherlands acquired Shipyard Begej and
introduced modern systems and procedures,
turning the shipyard's focus to the building of
fully outfitted inland waterway vessels.
Throughout the years, Shipyard Begej has
maintained its position as the leading shipbuilder
in Serbia. With more than 200 skilled employees
and using state-of-the art technology and
process methods, the yard has the resources
who showed me around. During the following
days, I made various inspections onboard of
both vessels and indicated some practical
improvements, which were evaluated by Eelke
I(oole, and decisions were made in accordance
with the budget. In the meantime, our second
superintendent, Robert van Ee, had joined
us
and the entire team continued with its specific
inspection duties."
Captain van der Endt added: "I would also
Iike to mention that the yard personnel were all
very friendly and they are working professionally
Communication in English with the yard
personnel is also very good. After returning to
the Netherlands to
join
the Sloll WaaI, I was
kept involved in developments. During my
second visit, in October, there had been much
progress and I am sure that Stolt-Nielsen can be
proud to have these vessels in its fleet. I found
the newbuilding process to be very interesting
and both myself and the rest of the crew can
hardly wait until December to start working on
this new and modern vessel!"
To ensure continuity of service to its customers
and control over the total fleet, SNITS operates
a number of fully owned vessels. The upcoming
newbuildings will be replacing some of the older
vessels that have been taken out of the fleet.
Recently, the class certificates of StoLt Wien had
expired and the possibility of extending her ife
through cass renewal and modernisation was
investigated. Unfortunately, the costs would have
been too high to achieve acceptable returns, so
the vessel was sold to a yard in the Netherlands
for recycling.
The first newbuilding from Shipyard Begej will
be delivered at the beginning of
January,
with the
second vessel due to
join
the fleet a few months
later
SNITS newbuildings: the details
Length: 110 metres LOA
Beam: 11.4 metres
Deadweight: 5,375 tons
Capacity: 3,791 cubic metres
Tanks: ten stainless steel tanks
Stolt Wien - cargo lines and manifold stripped from the
vessel, whch is being recycled at a yard n the Netherlands,
and facilities to produce fully outfitted, turnkey
inland waterway vessels customised to its clients'
requests, compliant with all international
certification standads
The actual construction work on newbuilding
#294 starTed in December 2010, when the steel
plates were delivered to the yard Eelke I(oole,
General Manager of the SNITS Ship Owning
department, is visiting the yard regularly to
supervise the progress of the construction. To
ensure continuity, the SNITS superintendents
are also carrying out inspections on a regular
basis.
In order to discuss practical details of the
vessel, Captain Peter van der Endt joined the
team in Serbia in September. He has written
down his impressions:
"When the Company requested me to sail
as Captain on the first newbuilding, I was
immediately very enthusiastic and gladly
accepted the offer Immediately thereafter, the
Company involved me in various practical
discussions, such as the safe positioning of the
bollards or layout of the piping systems. I was
also invited to join some of the meetings with
the suppliers. On September 14, I was invited
to visit the yard in Serbia, to give my practical
input onsite.
"On my first day at the yard, our
superintendent Kees van Baardewijk introduced
me to the Begej project manager Christian Papdi,
Captin van der Endt inspecting newbuilding #294. Newbuldng #295 s under construction alongside,
Newbuldings #294 (left) and #295 under construction.
18 Stolten December 2011