Radio Holland Netherlands has won a tender to supply Navigation/Communications packages for six newbuild vessels (illustration: Wijnne Barends)

Radio Holland Netherlands has won a tender to supply Navigation/Communications packages for six newbuild vessels of Dutch shipping company Wijnne Barends (Delfzijl, The Netherlands). Wijnne Barends was established in 1855 and has a longstanding relationship with Radio Holland spanning around 50 years. The company currently has more than 30 vessels in its fleet.

Radio Holland will supply a full NavCom package. This includes amongst others: X-Band Radar (Furuno, FAR-2117), S-Band Radar (Furuno, FAR-2137S), ECDIS (Transas, NS4000 Platinum), an Echosounder, Speedlog and AIS (all Furuno), Gyro Compass System (Raytheon-Anschutz, STD-22), GPS/Satellite Compass (Furuno, SC-70), VHF (Furuno, FM-8900S), Inmarsat C System / SSAS / LRIT and VSAT (Cobham, SAILOR-800). Wijnne Barends decided to opt for this equipment package with a major part of the systems of Furuno, based on a positive experience with similar packages for its previous newbuilds. The company took delivery of eight vessels in 2015/16, in addition to four in 2012.

Theunis Eelkema, Radio Holland’s Sales Manager Services North, comments, “We have a very long relationship with Wijnne Barends as preferred supplier of NavCom equipment for newbuilds. In competition with other companies I believe the positive experiences Wijnne Barends had in terms of reliable equipment and service over the years were key to win this order.”

The six 4,200 dwt general cargo vessels of 98 metres in length have a cargo hold of more than 6,000 m³ and will be trading in northwest Europe. The “Lady-H Class” vessels are designed to meet the highest Swedish/Finnish Ice Class standards and will be built at Chowgule Shipyard, in Goa, India. The first is set for delivery in November 2018 and the final vessel in July 2020. Radio Holland Netherlands has started assembling the first NavCom package.

Theunis Eelkema, adds, “This contract will be executed in good partnership between Radio Holland Netherlands and Radio Holland Middle East. It shows the unique global network capacity of Radio Holland. With more than 80 offices around the world, we can support on the spot along all major shipping routes and at shipbuilding centers. Radio Holland NL will carry out the engineering and project management from The Netherlands, while Radio Holland Middle East will perform the installation and commissioning. The final commissioning and sea trials will then be carried out by Radio Holland Netherlands.”

Tags: Radio Holland Netherlands, Wijnne Barends