United Waterways currently manages more than 100 river vessels and can deliver a newbuild within roughly two years, provided it is secured under a 10-year (or longer) charter.
“We provide white-label services. You bring the customer base, and we supply the ships, the infrastructure, and the operations behind the scenes — and you appear as the owner and operator,” explained Sascha Gill, CEO of United Waterways.
According to Gill, classic vessels can be placed on charter with short lead time, and for operators looking at multi-year commitments, updating the livery or refreshing interior spaces is easily achievable.
Newbuild Designs
Because river geography limits vessel dimensions, newbuild configurations are intentionally planned. “The dimensions are the same, so we can think about having a two-and-a-half-deck or three-deck ship and setting the space up differently,” Gill said.
Guest capacity options typically range from 140 to 200 passengers.
Gill noted that differentiation in the market increasingly comes from the shore-side experience, onboard entertainment and programming, and the food concept rather than radical changes to the hull form.
Sustainability
United Waterways is advancing a multi-track effort to cut carbon emissions, pursuing clean energy technologies, alternative fuels and new design approaches. Significant progress is expected before 2030, with planned refits enabling ships to run on methanol, biodiesel, and enhanced battery systems.
Gill said newbuilds are expected to follow the same decarbonization trajectory.
“With new operators coming in, the most important thing to have is infrastructure,” he emphasized. “You cannot enter the market without it.”
Infrastructure includes access to prime docking locations near city centers, many of which United Waterways manages.
Gill added that the company also maintains lay-up areas for offseason work, along with harbors in Germany and the Netherlands, and is in the process of developing two additional locations.
No Brakes
Demand from American travelers remains extremely strong for the operators United Waterways supports. Opportunities are also growing for more European-sourced guests as well as long-term charters for tour operators in China and Japan.
Gill noted that the shoulder season is shrinking, a sign of market growth — but it also creates pressure to complete refurbishments quickly. Previous concerns such as fluctuating water levels have become less problematic in recent years.
To support workforce development, United Waterways has opened its own training academy in Bratislava, offering programs that prepare ocean-going cadets to become licensed officers for river operations.
About United Waterways
United Waterways is Europe’s largest provider of modular white-label ship management services across inland waterways. Its brand portfolio includes the floating venues of KD, Oceandiva, Weiße Flotte Sachsen, Thames Luxury Charters, as well as the ship-owning entity Starling Fleet and the service brands of the River Advice Group on Europe’s waterways. Ocean Advice serves as the company’s counterpart for passenger ship management on global oceans.
Adapted from an article originally shared by Cruise Industry News. Photo credit: iStock by Getty Images – winhorse. Used with permission.