Preparing the last phase of construction

At the Bleskensgraaf location Leeuwestein is finishing the construction of the Glasshopper. This company is specialised in custom made electrical installations for inland cargo vessels. Furthermore this company, led by Han Leeuwestein, specialised in electrical propulsion and ballast sytems.
Mr. Han Leeuwestein participated in this project together with Mr. Arie de Heer, ownner of 'café-restaurant De Krom' and investor Mr. Ebe Nouwen of 'Nouwen Participaties Nederland BV' and 'Nouwen Maritiem'.
Together they founded a new shipping company called 'Glasshopper Kinderdijk Charter BV' which will be the operator of the tourist boat.


The Bleskensgraaf location offers large space and much facilities.


Mr. Han Leeuwestein discusses with 'old friends' who assist him for fun.


The bow facets, will they look like a crystal when the boat's finished?


Another view of the wide bow.


Details of the bow section structure.


Class 'A' welding creates flat surfaces which result in less fairing.


Sharp edges.


Bow with spud pole hole in front and bow thruster tunnel transverse.
Two spud poles berth the ship by lowering poles in the mud.

Transportation of the hull

The Glasshopper is build at several locations. The hull is build by MLV alubouw at their old workshop in 's Graveland and finished at their new Nieuwersluis shipyard.
Then the Glasshopper is transported to a location in Bleskensgraaf next to the canal where Glasshopper will sail. At this location the hull is finished with a superstructure, interior and complex technical installations. One of these installations is a ballast system with pumps and valves to sink in 80 cm. in order to pass low bridges.

This post shows the transportation of the hull in early January 2008.

Will he be able to lift the hull?

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Finished hull of the Glasshopper.

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Aft ship.

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Ready to roll!

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The brand new MLV Alubouw location.

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Sorry for the lamp post.

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Although the Glasshopper offers large interior floor space and large displacement, the exterior isn't box shape at all.

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Extreme maneuvring.

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Proud MLV alubouw representatives Martin van der Laan de Vries and Rene Sandbergen.

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In the water for the very first time.

Passing the railway bridge.

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Topview.

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The facets of the bow.

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Interior with large battery storage for electrical propulsion.

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Strapped to the tug boat with a good view at the stern.

Waiting for departure.

Full steam ahead on the 'Amsterdam-Rijn Kanaal' heading for Bleskensgraaf.

Building the hull of the Glasshopper

MLV Alubouw started hull construction in August 2007 in their 'old' workshop.
The hull is build from aluminum.

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Like a giant puzzle, all pieces fit together.

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Concentration.

As MLV is anxiously 'waiting' to move to their big new location, they build the hull in pieces in their small premises.

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Master welder Rene Sandbergen.

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Quality is in the details.

Repeate, repeate, repeate................

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Bow section.

Glasshopper design is based on flat planar surfaces. This makes construction quite easy and even allows simple folding of sheets of aluminum.

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Stern.

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Tac-welds join sheets of aluminum.

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Forepeak.