Corporate book RensenDriessen 2017

THE ELVIRE MOTOR TANKER: ‘ALL OF OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE EXCEEDED’ WE ARE ENJOYING A CUP OF COFFEE WITH DONALD AND ANNEMARIE MEEUWISSE-VAN ROON IN THEIR COSY HOME IN PAPENDRECHT. WE ARE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THEY WON’T BE HERE MUCH LONGER, BECAUSE THEY ARE DUE TO MOVE TO A NEW HOME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT WE CAME HERE TO ASK THEM ABOUT. THE COMPILER OF THIS BOOK HAS ASKED US TO RECORD THE EXPERIENCES OF MEEUWISSE BINNENSCHIFFAHRT GMBH DURING AND AFTER THE BUILD OF ITS NEW ELVIRE MOTOR TANKER.

a future-oriented option that would benefit the profitability and continuity of their company. Later, they were forced to mothball the new-build subject for the longer term because of the consequences of the economic crisis, which had only just started at that time. In 2015, the subject was raised for discussion again, during a meeting with Alexander (Lex) Fontijne from Plouvier subsidiary Intertrans Tankschiffahrt. Lex Fontijne has an unparalleled understanding of the logistics market and of the best way to respond to demand with joint interests in mind. He advised Donald and Renate to approach Rensen-Driessen Shipbuilding B.V. about a new double-hulled ship that would facilitate healthy operations in their particular navigation area. A meeting was arranged, the parties clicked and enjoyed a fruitful relationship based on mutual enthusiasm and trust that extended from the first to the very last meeting. Donald and Renate provided Driessen and his colleagues with detailed information about their company, clients, navigation area and the products they transport. They sail with a five-man crew, operating in two shifts of three hours each. It’s a team that has been working together for more than 20 years now, because of which they know exactly what to do and when. Meeuwisse Binnenschiffahrt GmbH transports mineral

The ship was delivered turnkey to Meeuwisse Binnenschiffahrt GmbH, which is run by Donald Meeuwisse and his sister Renata Simon-Meeuwisse, at the end of December last year. This brother and sister have been immersed in the world of inland shipping since an early age. Their father, Steve Meeuwisse, set out on his first voyage in his own ship in 1973, when he founded the company that we know today. The original ship was followed by a new-build and other ships from the market, including the RP Basel motor tanker. This is the ship on which Donald started his career as a captain in 2003. In 2009, Meeuwisse senior transferred the company to his son and daughter. The family has been transporting goods for shipper Plouvier Transport for 20 years now. The new rules applicable to tanker shipping with effect from 2018 are set to affect their business operations too. RP Basel, their single-hulled motor tanker will no longer be in compliance with regulations, for example. This came as no surprise, as evidenced by the fact that this subject had already featured on Donald and Renate’s agenda on various occasions. A number of possibilities had been considered, including the conversion of the ship into a vessel with a double hull, an option that others in the industry were looking at too. The siblings felt that this would not be

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INTERVIEW: THE ELVIRE MOTOR TANKER / TEXT: HANS HEILIGERS