The launch of the MV Vertom Quina in Kampen marked the formal completion of a shipbuilding effort that has shaped Vertom’s short-sea capabilities for nearly a decade. With this vessel, Royal T Shipyards delivered the tenth and final unit of the LABRAX line, a series developed around diesel-electric propulsion and practical operating efficiency.

Although the yard has extensive experience with modular construction, the event was significant for teams that have worked with this method for more than 15 years. Each LABRAX vessel moved through a consistent production rhythm, gradually forming a fleet built through coordinated engineering and a stable working relationship between the shipyard and Vertom.

CEO Thecla Bodewes emphasized that the milestone represented the accumulated effort of welders, designers, suppliers, and project teams. She noted that the programme advanced through steady cooperation, even as the short-sea sector navigated regulatory and market changes. Across the yard, the tenth vessel symbolized a continuous production sequence rather than a single project milestone.

A traditional element entered the ceremony when Mrs. Juaquina Guerra Martins assumed the role of godmother. Her participation added the customary personal dimension associated with vessel naming, linking long-term technical work with long-standing maritime practice.

For Vertom director Dirk de Jong, the MV Vertom Quina served as the final step in a long-running partnership. He described the vessel as the last component of a collaboration defined by trust and practical aims, closing a structured series before planning transitions to new fleet requirements.

The vessel maintains the established LABRAX specifications: a length of 118.60 m, a 14.30 m beam and a full-box cargo hold offering 329,700 cubic feet of capacity. Its diesel-electric arrangement is designed to reduce fuel use and emissions while retaining flexibility for potential future fuels. The shipyard’s modular approach—applied to more than 200 completed vessels—supported the consistent design logic used throughout the series and aligns with short-sea operational demands.

The MV Vertom Quina will remain in Kampen for outfitting before moving to Harlingen for sea trials. Once testing is completed, the vessel is expected to enter Vertom’s European short-sea service later this year, formally bringing the ten-vessel LABRAX programme to a close.