Damen Adds Two More EST-Floattech Battery Systems to CF 3850 Fleet

Damen Shipyards Group has ordered two additional Octopus Series battery systems from EST-Floattech, bringing the total number of CF 3850 cargo vessels equipped or scheduled to carry the Dutch supplier's energy storage to nine. Announced on October 26, the order renews a framework agreement first established through a partnership in November 2024.

The systems will be installed on two Damen Combi Freighter 3850 vessels, the workhorse of the shipyard's short-sea cargo portfolio. Neither the financial value of the deal nor the specific battery capacities chosen for the two ships has been disclosed, and no installation or delivery schedule has been announced.

For short-sea operators, the commercial logic is straightforward. The Octopus system scales from 240 kWh to 1,320 kWh depending on configuration, allowing owners to match battery capacity to their trading profile rather than paying for storage they cannot use.

What can the battery system actually do?

The Octopus platform serves several onboard functions beyond simple energy storage. It supports peak shaving, which smooths demand spikes on the main generators, and powers bow thruster operations during manoeuvring.

Depending on installed capacity, the system can also enable port calls without emissions from onboard power generation. In battery-powered operating modes, crews can shut down conventional generators entirely, cutting fuel burn and exhaust emissions during the most regulated and visible phases of a voyage.

The technology fits into a wider efficiency package Damen has built around the CF 3850. The vessel features an optimised hull design and can accommodate a range of energy-saving technologies, letting operators configure each ship to their specific operational requirements.

Why the repeat orders matter

The CF 3850 has become one of the most ordered vessels in its segment. According to Damen, the next-generation version has attracted 50 orders over the past five years — a pace of roughly ten vessels per year that gives battery suppliers a predictable installation pipeline across a standardised platform.

"The CF 3850 is a proven vessel with an extensive track record," said Arjan de Vries, Manager Procurements at Damen Cargo Vessels. De Vries explained that Damen aims to combine its established vessel platform with reliable technologies, and highlighted the flexibility of the Octopus system, which scales to meet different customer requirements.

For EST-Floattech, repeated installations on an identical vessel design carry their own value. Each additional fitting gives the supplier operational data on system performance, which it can use to refine future configurations across the series.

"We were very pleased to receive this latest order from Damen Cargo Vessels," said Jelle Meindertsma, Sales Manager at EST-Floattech. Meindertsma pointed to the benefits of applying battery technology to a proven vessel platform rather than a bespoke design.

What comes next?

The Octopus Series is built as a modular solution for maritime applications, with operators free to select capacity according to their operational needs. Damen continues to offer battery integration as part of its broader range of efficiency improvements available on the CF 3850.

With nine vessels now carrying or awaiting the technology, and 50 hulls of the type sold in five years, the framework agreement positions EST-Floattech as a default supplier for a significant share of the CF 3850 fleet — and further repeat orders look likely as owners face tightening emissions rules in European short-sea trades.