Shipping company Clipper Stad Amsterdam
Meet the team, learn about our goals and read more about the Clipper.
SUSTAINABILITY IS IN OUR DNA
Sustainability is part of the Clipper’s DNA as well as that of the shipping company. Life at sea means being very close to nature and of course, there is a lot of respect for the environment and its preservation on board. As sailing enthusiasts, we take advantage of the wind and always try to sail as many miles as possible.
The large-scale refit in 2019/2020 resulted in a major step being taken regarding the sustainable course of the Clipper Stad Amsterdam. The ship now has much cleaner and more efficient engines for both propulsion and power supply.
An exhaust gas treatment installation has been installed and the ship has been fitted with a new wastewater treatment installation to fulfil future requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In order, not to have to switch on the generator in the port and therefore not have to burn diesel, an improved shore power connection has been realized.
Clipper Stad Amsterdam is also contributing to The Ocean Cleanup‘s research into ocean plastic pollution. The clipper is equipped with The Ocean Cleanup’s Automated Debris Imaging System (ADIS), an AI-powered camera that collects surface imagery and records any floating plastic the Stad Amsterdam encounters when at sea. The information ADIS collects from participating vessels helps map plastic pollution in the ocean, furthering the global understanding of the dimensions of the issue and how to solve it.
The Clipper Story
The Clipper ‘Stad Amsterdam’ is a showcase of both the high point of commercial tall ship engineering in the past, and of the application of state of the art clean ship systems of today.
The ship is the official flagship of the City of Amsterdam, and the flagship of the nautical event “Sail Amsterdam” that is held every five years. It has also proved itself a very fast sailing ship indeed, winning the Tall Ships Race in its first year.
The concept
The beginning; SAIL Amsterdam 1995
The idea of designing and constructing the ship was conceived originally as a work and skills preservation and education project for the City of Amsterdam. It was jointly commissioned by Frits Goldschmeding, founder of Randstad Holding, and the Amsterdam City Council. World-renowned naval architect and former sailing champion Gerard Dijkstra drew up the design.The name; Clipper Stad Amsterdam
Many ships have carried “Amsterdam” in their name, and many still do so today. But this ship is one of the very few examples of a true ocean going sailing ship using Clipper design and sailing principles.
The design
Authentic but modern at the same time
After Goldschmeding and the City of Amsterdam made the financial arrangements, the real work began. Former professional sailing champion and world-famous naval architect Gerard Dijkstra designed a ship that had to deliver top performance under water and conquer the hearts and minds of sailing enthusiasts above water.The ship was designed starting from the final designs of the era where commercial sailing ships tried to compete with those propelled by coal and steam. With today’s technology, it was possible to make improvements to the hull shape, further enhancing the performance of the ship. For a Clipper, the ship is relatively long and wide, as it has been conceived as a ship with passenger cabins rather than a freighter.
The construction
De bouw begint
In december 1997 begon het werk aan de stalen romp bij Niron Steel – onderdeel van scheepswerf Shipdock in Amsterdam.Na voltooiing in december 1998 werd het geraamte overgebracht naar het Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam, waar de rest van de bouw werd voltooid. Het stralende houtwerk, de uitbundige koperen versieringen, de indrukwekkende trap en de sierlijke details toonden het summum van modern Nederlands vakmanschap.
De tuigage is al even indrukwekkend. Er zijn hydraulisch aangedreven kaapstanders en twee conische “Jarvis”-lieren om bepaalde handelingen van de hoofd- en de voormast tegelijkertijd te synchroniseren. Het schip wordt grotendeels met de hand bediend door een zeer gemotiveerde professionele bemanning, die in drie ploegen, 24/7 opereert. Het totale zeiloppervlak bedraagt ruim 2200 m2 en het is een geweldige ervaring om het schip met een goede wind onder vol zeil te zien. Het schip vaart zoveel als mogelijk onder zeil.
Goldschmeding genoot van het bouwproces en, zoals zijn stijl is, zorgde ervoor dat het project kansen bood aan schoolverlaters en werklozen. De kans om met meester-ambachtslieden te werken gaf hen een set vaardigheden die hen later zouden helpen bij het vinden van een nieuwe baan.
Officieel gedoopt
Het schip werd te water gelaten in het jaar 2000. Rita Kok, de vrouw van toenmalig premier Wim Kok, doopte het schip en de clipper werd voor het eerst aan het publiek getoond tijdens het SAIL Amsterdam 2000 evenement.Het project heeft haar rol vervuld door te helpen een leegte op de Amsterdamse arbeidsmarkt voor maritieme vaardigheden op te vullen. Elk jaar eren we het gedachte. Dit doen wij door elk jaar met gesponsorde zeilreizen voor jongeren met zeer uiteenlopende achtergronden, die de kans krijgen vaardigheden en competenties te ontwikkelen die hun kan kan op de arbeidsmarkt verbetert.
First race
De Cutty Sark Tall Ship Race
The Clipper Stad Amsterdam has won the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race for the first time.The Cutty Sark Tall Ship Race is an annual race focusing on international friendship and training young people in the art of sailing. The race, consisting of two stages of several hundred nautical miles, is sailed in European waters. Half of the sailing crew must consist of young people.
SAIL Amsterdam
Royalty on board
The clipper sailed across the IJ as the flagship for the SAIL Amsterdam event in 2005, with at the helm, then Crown Prince Willem Alexander.
The beagle trip
Beagle, in the wake of Darwin
Commissioned by VPRO, the Clipper Stad Amsterdam departs from Plymouth for an eight-month voyage commemorating the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin, the world-famous biologist, natural scientist and geologist. From 1831 to 1836, he sailed around the world aboard the Beagle, a voyage repeated by the Clipper Stad Amsterdam. His theory of the evolution of species by natural selection was developed primarily during Darwin’s original voyage.Curious? Watch all episodes here!
The big refit
The road to sustainability
Fitted from the start with modern navigation equipment in addition to the classic compass-and-sextant, it also has systems for supporting the passengers, a diesel powered drive, generators and a bow propeller. At the last major overhaul in 2020-2021, it was further enhanced with state of the art “clean” engines and generators, shore power capability and quite a few other features. This makes it also one of the cleanest ships of its size when it is not using sails only, with an impressive reduction of CO2 and NOx emissions compared with almost all other ships today. It is also planned to apply the new partly bio HVO fuels available by the summer of 2023.Wondering what that looked like?? Click here to see how it went.
Recap
Recap 23 years The Clipper Stad Amsterdam
Over the past two decades, the guest list of the ship has been extremely diverse and impressive. Entries range from youngsters from less privileged backgrounds to sailing enthusiasts worldwide to senior business people, heads of state and Royalty.Themes of events on the ship are often centered on sustainability and employability, and on the promotional goals of the City of Amsterdam and by extension, often also of the Dutch foreign service.
The crew (12 nationalities) is almost as diverse, in terms of nationalities and backgrounds, as the guests. They create a participative experience, involving the guests in the story of the ship, and its messages.
The future
On to 25 years of Clipper Stad Amsterdam
.The result has been a steadily expanding group of dedicated fans worldwide, which has been further enhanced by social media opportunities in the past few years.The ship has sailed around the world, and it has recently embarked on a second such trip. Such trips spread the word globally, linking diverse cultures around a unique ship.
Thus, it is fair to say that the ship shows the state of shipping up to the point where carbon-based propulsion took over, and it also shows where we can go, and have to go today. It makes the Clipper “Stad Amsterdam” a unique ship.
Sustainable MERCHANDISE
A new collection of merchandise is on sale since 2019. The clothing that we sell in our shop onboard as well as in our online webshop are made from sustainable materials and produced in a responsible, ecological way. Besides the fact that the materials are more beautiful, it also feels good to sell products that have been carefully considered.
The team
Both ashore and on the water, we have a team that works together to make sure your stay on board the Clipper runs smoothly. Get to know them!
The crew
The crew consists of thirty experienced sailors, a hospitality team, a technical department and trainees. As well as being able to expertly sail the Clipper Stad Amsterdam, our international, English-speaking crew members are all passionate about the ship and love sharing this with you. The crew is led by two captains and five officers.
The office team
First row (left-right):
Reinoud van der Heijden (Logistics), Anne Cornelissen (Sales), Ineke Eibergen (Bookings), Babette Vriezen (HR).
Second row (left-right):
Evert van Dishoeck (Director) , Sanne Lutz (Events & HR), Ernst de Haan (Supplychain), work as a team at the Clipper Stad Amsterdam HQ in – where else – Amsterdam!