Damen Shipyards Group has unveiled the latest platform in its successful portfolio of cargo vessels — the Combi Freighter (CF) 5000 ICE, designed specifically for ice-class operations. The vessel was officially launched at the Europort 2025 exhibition in Rotterdam.
The new design marks the start of a scalable series of ice-class cargo ships, with the CF 5000 ICE as the first model in this updated family.
Concept: versatile cargo ship with ice-class capability
According to Remko Bouma, Commercial Director at Damen Cargo Vessels, the core objective was to build on the shipbuilder’s next-generation cargo vessel experience and adapt it for economical operation in ice:
“Our aim was to use the experience and success we gained with our new-generation cargo vessels to create a platform capable of economical ice operation.
The CF 5000 performs equally well in open water and in ice, maintaining the optimal deadweight and high efficiency expected from a standard cargo vessel. As always, we worked closely with vessel operators, listening to their wishes to create a practical and reliable ship suited for today’s operations and tomorrow’s requirements.”
Evolution of the proven CF series
The CF 5000 ICE is based on Damen’s extensive experience with building multiple next-generation CF 3850 vessels, as well as the standard CF 5000 cargo ships.
For this latest design, Damen has optimized the hull form:
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the length and draught have been slightly increased,
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resulting in a higher deadweight and improved cargo capacity.
Although these dimensional changes are relatively modest, they deliver a significant gain in payload. Damen plans to introduce these design improvements into the next generation of standard CF 5000 vessels as well.
Ice-class rules and crew comfort
The CF 5000 ICE complies with Swedish/Finnish ice-class rules and can be tailored to meet the latest requirements of the Finnish flag.
Recognising the demands of winter and Arctic operations, the vessel features enhanced comfort for the crew, including:
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well-designed living areas,
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dedicated recreation spaces such as a sauna and a gym.
The ship is equipped with a comprehensive winter operations package, enabling safe and reliable performance in temperatures down to -30°C.
Hybrid power boost for ice operation
To maintain high efficiency, Damen has chosen a smart approach to delivering the additional power required for ice-class operation.
Instead of oversizing the main engine, the extra power needed in ice is provided by a hybrid power take-off/power take-in (PTO/PTI) system:
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in normal service, the vessel operates on a relatively compact but highly efficient propulsion plant,
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when ice conditions demand it, extra propulsion power is added only as needed via the hybrid system.
This concept allows the CF 5000 ICE to combine:
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economical operation in open-water trading,
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robust capability for ice navigation,
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increased deadweight,
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and future-proof performance aligned with evolving operational and regulatory requirements.
