EST-Floattech, Dutch supplier of maritime battery systems, announced the successful integration of its Octopus Series battery system on board the newly built inland cruise vessel Amadeus Aurea. The vessel was completed at TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden and entered service in April 2026.
Developed in close collaboration with Werkina Werkendam, the hybrid diesel-electric propulsion configuration of Amadeus Aurea has been equipped with an Octopus Series High Energy battery system of EST-Floattech, the system has a capacity of 520 kWh. The energy storage solution plays a central role in enabling the vessel’s hybrid performance and significantly reducing emissions during operation.
The Octopus Series battery system installed on Amadeus Aurea is designed to handle and supply peak when the vessel is sailing, thereby reducing the need to start up additional generators. This results in lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and quieter operation. The battery system enables the Amadeus Aurea to sail into ports and urban areas with minimal exhaust emissions and reduced noise levels, a great advantage, as rural areas more often have more strict emission regulations.
The battery system is also a part of the vessel’s broader energy concept, which includes an advanced hybrid propulsion system, highly efficient engines with exhaust gas after-treatment, and an innovative heat recovery system that reuses the heat produced by the generators.
“With the Octopus Series battery system, we enable inland cruise vessels such as Amadeus Aurea to manage energy use more intelligently,” said Walter van der Pennen, CCO at EST-Floattech. “We are proud to contribute to a vessel that demonstrates how performance, passenger comfort and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”
The integration of the battery system was carried out in close cooperation with Werkina Werkendam, responsible for the electrical installation and system integration on board.
“We’ve relied before on the robust and safe systems from EST-Floattech,” said Andries Haan, CCO at Werkina Werkendam. “The team ensures timely delivery and good collaboration, makes them a truster parter to work with. We know the importance of battery systems for modern inland cruise vessels and think that EST-Floattech is a good fit for different types of projects. The hybrid propulsion ensures that Amadeus Aurea is prepared for current and future environmental requirements on European Waterways.”
As cities and ports across Europe continue to introduce stricter emission regulations, inland cruise companies are facing growing pressure to modernize their fleets. Battery-supported hybrid propulsion offers a concrete pathway to reducing fuel consumption and operational emissions. The battery systems of EST-Floattech comply with the stricter requirements of ES-Trin and have multiple maritime type approvals.
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