Aluminium boats
Alumax specializes in the construction of boats made of aluminium. They build them for individuals, but also workships. Currently it is being built on such a ship for a customer in Vietnam. And since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the demand for aluminium boats has also increased considerably, according to Germeraad. Dutch people go on holiday in their own country and would like a boat.
According to Remco Germeraad, the water taxis are a challenge. "Electric boating is no stranger to us. But this format and with so many passengers is new to us. We had a new battery system and a Dutch manufactured electric motor made. The Meuse is a very busy water. That's why we have to do a lot about the safety of the taxi."
The construction of seven ships will last until early 2023. One of the ships is delivered empty. The intention is that it will sail on hydrogen. An experiment involving Watertaxi Rotterdam. Germeraad likes that. "I'm sure something's going to happen in the field of hydrogen. But whether it's affordable, that's the question."
For Alumax, this order means work for a longer period of time. And there is now more interest from abroad. Mainly because they are electrically powered. "We have contacts with Germany, Turkey and Portugal. Several countries have asked about the possibilities."
Venice could be of benefit
An example is also the city of Venice. There the air is so clean now that the tourists are not there because of corona and there are few boats sailing, that these Meppeler taxi boats are also something for this Italian city. Germeraad sees possibilities. "You have no emissions, so fits very well."
The first should be ready by the end of this year. "When the first one is ready, we will first test it on the Meppeler Diep. After that, the water taxi is immediately used in the water taxi rotterdam timetable.
