RensenDriessen Book 2018

Only then do you get an uncluttered ship without many doodahs. Because the deck has a concentration of several well-planned work stations, everything can be linked and managed in an organized way.

their first talk with Wim Driessen in Zwijndrecht. After building four ships, the interaction felt just like old times. At first you discuss mainly steel prices and delivery times. The choice for the kind of ship to be built was not a topic of discussion: they wanted a full copy of the MTS Regentes. That worked out well, as Wim Driessen said he had an option at the shipyard to deliver this type of ship. The family immediately jumped on this head start. In subsequent talks, Hoefnagel and Driessen discussed the existing blueprints for the sister ship. Hoefnagel: “Of course with the old ship in mind we carefully thought in advance about whether we wanted any changes or improvements for the new ship, then decided that the formula of the Regentes should be applied unchanged for the new ship. During the four years that we have sailed with that ship we haven’t come across any situations that would justify a constructional adaptation for the new MTS Barones. The only exception is that the foundations for a bunkering boom and coils will not be part of this construction because the ship will be set up differently. When building the MTS Barones, equipped with protective double- siding (Y-shape construction), we will apply the same construction as with its older sister ship, using the same high-grade steel for the loading section. This results in a much stronger construction while needing considerably less material.” The application of this proven design that Hoefnagel built together with Rensen-Driessen Shipbuilding and Rommerts Ship Design also means saving at least 150 tons of steel with the MTS Barones. According to Hoefnagel, “When it comes to the price tag you have to think in practical terms and not build things that aren’t necessary.”

Hoefnagel tells us that the tanker Barones is already the sixth newbuilding vessel that brought the family into service. Two dry cargo vessels and 4 tanker vessels. It all started fifteen years ago, when the family ordered their first new tank ship, which for them launched the transition from dry cargo to tanker shipping. By the time the switch was made, Paulus had gathered ample experience at sea as well as with inland navigation. Two years later came the 110,00-meter first MTS Iduna and in 2010 the 135,00-meter second Iduna. Being an entrepreneur means looking ahead. In 2012 they started thinking about another new ship measuring 135,00 meters. The family was immediately offered an existing hull for purchase. After talking with Rensen-Driessen Shipbuilding, it turned out that they could make a much more budget-friendly offer. The family could also have the ship built according to their own design and specifications. The ship was delivered in 2014 under the name Regentes, measuring 135,00 x 17,55 x 5,01 meters. The entirety of the ship’s measurements, design, workmanship and technical specifications was highly regarded and eagerly followed within the industry. “After several years of sailing with the MTS Regentes under fluctuating conditions we know the ship and all the tools on board thoroughly, be it in terms of manoeuvring, loading or discharging”, says Hoefnagel. For the family, this formula adds up to a validation of the ship’s profitability within their business and its place in the market. It was only natural that by mid-2016 the family was talking about building another ship. Tentative, noncommittal discussions gradually developed into an outlined, definitive plan. They soon made an agreement with Wim Driessen. Incidentally, Wim and Paulus know each other from boarding school. Ellen Bosman and Paulus Hoefnagel had

After clearly including all of this in the blueprints and contracts, documents were signed with Rensen-Driessen Shipbuilding for the fourth time. And so the initial option was transformed into a definitive construction project for a quick delivery of the hull. Hoefnagel candidly expresses how glad he is to be able to maintain such a good business relationship with Wim Driessen. The hull was built at the Severnav shipyard in Romania. The family has been going there since 2003, and this time around too, during the construction, they have visited three times and met many old acquaintances. The hull was towed via an external route from there to Hoek van Holland, where it was delivered for assembly. Hoefnagel speaks fast and excitedly when asked how the family would summarize the period of construction and assembly: “The big advantage of the MTS Barones is that the ship, built with ‘only’ 12 tanks, is good for 9,000 tons. Compare this with any 135,00-meter ship of about 6,000 tons, which generally has to operate 18 to 24 tanks. On balance the MTS Barones is still a large ship, but with its 12 tanks it is by any standard an easy and orderly ship, in which everything has been executed in the right proportions. And business- wise, this is what makes the difference between a ‘regular’ ship and this Barones.” His sister Tilly Hoefnagel and brother-in-law Marijn van de Geer will be sailing on the ship.

Text: Hans Heiligers

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