The Alkmaar-headquartered organisation has bought the 1912-built Dutch clipper De Tukker, which will start carrying cargo and passengers across the North Sea later this year after restoration works.

The retrofit will bring De Tukker back up to commercial standard, including works on her hull, a new deckhouse, and upgrading of the rigging.

Once in sailing condition, the clipper ship will be able to carry 80 m3 of cargo, about 50-70t, while also offering room for 12 travellers.

"We have already been approached by a wide range of companies looking to ship their product in a sustainable manner. With this purchase EcoClipper will be in a good position to begin providing this service in an environmentally friendly way. Altogether, De Tukker should be an excellent ship to start putting the operational vision of EcoClipper into practice," Capt. Jorne Langelaan, CEO and Founder of EcoClipper Cooperative, commented.

After construction, De Tukker worked as a coastal trader before becoming a Dutch sail training vessel in the 1980s. She seized her operation in 2012, requiring significant repairs.

The organisation intends to create an entire fleet of retrofitted and newbuilt sail cargo ships. Read more about the organisation's newbuilding project in the article Return of sail. Modern sailing ships as the enabling link between ethical production, travel, and transportation in BTJ 3-4/20.

Photo: EcoClipper