Aqualiner has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards for four waterbuses to provide public transport services in the Belgian city of Antwerp, as part of a wider transportation programme also including land-based public transport services and road improvement schemes.
The first vessel was delivered from stock, and the additional three will be built at Damen Shipyards Antalya in Turkey, the group's composite specialist. The first waterbus will operate a service connecting the centre of Antwerp with the southern reaches of the city. It will later expand with a similar service to the north. When the four waterbuses are in operation, both services will be able to offer half-hourly transportation.
In the design process, Damen has paid particular attention to on board comfort, for both operators and passengers. Ease of operation is assured thanks to the ergonomic joystick controls, whilst passengers enjoy spacious boarding and panaromic views of the city.
The naming ceremony of the first vessel, Aqua Diamond, took place June 29 at Steenplein in the city of Antwerp. The vessel is named in honour of Antwerp's leading role in the diamond industry.
