Amsterdam, 02 Sep 2026 – EST-Floattech has been contracted by Dutch system integrator Van Tiem Elektro to supply its Octopus High Energy battery systems for a new series of 15 river cruise vessels. The vessels are being outfitted at De Gerlien van Tiem in Druten, and at Vahali Shipyards in Ghent, for a group of cruise operators, incl. AmaWaterways and Uniworld, sailing on the Danube and the Black Sea region. Each vessel will be equipped with 650 kWh of battery capacity, bringing the total order to 9.7 MWh, one of EST-Floattech's largest river cruise contracts to date.
The order builds on an existing relationship between EST-Floattech and Van Tiem Elektro, who have collaborated on previous maritime electrification projects. Wamel-based system integrator Van Tiem Elektro is already familiar with the Octopus platform from earlier tankers and river cruisers, including the Solara and the Astara.
Onboard, the Octopus HE systems will support partial electric sailing, hotel load and emergency back-up power. The platform combines EST-Floattech's in-house developed cell and module technology with a String Controller for straightforward MODbus integration into a vessel's existing systems. It holds Type Approval from DNV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, ABS, and RINA.
Marinus van der Putte, Sales Manager at EST-Floattech, says:
“This order is built on mutual trust. Van Tiem Elektro is always solution-oriented, which makes them a genuine pleasure to work with. We’ve worked together before, and that long-term relationship, combined with their knowledge of our Octopus platform and their expertise in system integration, made this a natural next step in the river cruise market for both companies.”
Continued cruise industry momentum
With outfitting yards across Europe fully booked, work on the first hulls in the series is underway now, with final deliveries scheduled through 2030. The order reflects continued momentum in the river cruise sector, where operators - predominantly Swiss and German, alongside one US-based operator and one Chinese operator - continue to invest in electrification to reduce emissions and meet onboard hotel-load demands.
Maarten Soetekouw, Co-Owner of Van Tiem Elektro, states:
"This is one of the largest electrification projects we've taken on: 9.7 MWh across 15 vessels is a real step forward for sustainable river cruising, and we're proud to be delivering it. EST-Floattech’s Octopus platform is a system our engineers already know well, and that
experience gives us real confidence on a project of this scale. Their pricing was competitive, but what matters just as much is how we work together: open, practical and focused on getting the job done. We’re looking forward to a long-term collaboration across this entire series.”
