Reliable IT for a sailing icon
The Clipper Stad Amsterdam is no ordinary ship. It combines traditional sailing with a complex operation, with crew and passengers traveling worldwide: from Amsterdam to the Caribbean. Moritz Kuhlenbäumer is captain of the Clipper Stad Amsterdam: “This ship was built as an ambassador for the Netherlands, and we sail it all over the world. Then everything must keep working, always.”
Behind that seemingly calm voyage lies an environment where IT plays an increasingly important role. Navigation, communication, and operational systems are fully integrated and largely run digitally.
For JR Shipping, onboard IT is an integral part of the operation. For the Clipper Stad Amsterdam, the shipping company collaborated with Nalta, a long-standing IT partner for years. But this project required a different approach. Alfred Grovenstein, ICT Engineer at JR Ship Management: “Normally, we work with container ships and offshore vessels. This is a sailing ship, and that's really different. But precisely here, IT is at least as important.”
Together with Nalta, the complete onboard IT setup was realized. From hardware to configuration and migration: everything had to be perfect, without impacting operations. ICT Engineer Fabian Klok: “The Dell hardware was supplied by Nalta, and together we handled the setup and performed the migration.”
While sailing still revolves around wind and craftsmanship, a large part of the work is shifting to digital systems. Navigation, monitoring, and communication depend on stable and up-to-date IT. Floris Spilermann Immink, first mate and responsible for onboard IT: “IT is becoming increasingly important here. We work with automated systems that also need to be accessed from shore. That is becoming increasingly critical.”
A concrete example is the new navigation system, which is continuously updated and relies on online data. “We use a new chart and radar system that requires continuous updates. This clearly shows how dependent we have become on IT.”
“It's precisely this contrast that makes this project so unique,” Alfred continues. “We're aboard a replica of a 19th-century ship, but we work with high-tech systems. On deck, sailing is still done traditionally, harnessing wind and weather. Below deck, a modern IT environment supports everything.”
This combination demands reliability. Because at sea, downtime is not an option, especially with so many passengers on board. “You have many more people on board here than on a container ship. That also makes IT essential for our passengers.”
The Clipper Stad Amsterdam is constantly evolving. Outwardly, the ship remains true to its historical appearance, while behind the scenes, the role of technology is growing. With its updated IT infrastructure, the ship has a stable and scalable foundation for the future; a foundation that grows with new systems, applications, and requirements.
For the crew, IT is not an end in itself, but a prerequisite for the ship to operate safely and efficiently. Or as it's aptly summarized on board: “While sailing, you're focused on wind and sails. But everything behind that is now digital.”
