May 2, 2023
Sustainable Economy Fund North Holland (PDENH) is financing – together with Triodos Sustainable Finance Foundation and Nesec Ship Finance – the construction of a sailing vessel for Sea Ranger Service. From early 2024, the ship will be deployed for research on and management of the North Sea. Sea Rangers will also use the vessel to promote the restoration of seagrass, which sequesters CO2 and makes a significant contribution to biodiversity.
Sea Ranger Service has a dual mission: training young people for maritime careers and protecting and restoring biodiversity in the North Sea. The 24-meter sailing boat is currently under construction at a shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam. Because the ship uses wind as its primary method of propulsion, it can carry out necessary offshore research and biodiversity restoration services with very low emissions and in a cost-effective manner.
Investment first
The new vessel represents a major step for the Sea Ranger Service, as it can now expand its conservation work and youth training to other countries outside the Netherlands. For some of the investors, the project has proven to be a first. For Triodos Regenerative Money Centre Bank and PDENH, it is the first time they have invested in a shipbuilding project.
Thomas Ticheloven, Investment Manager at PDENH: “It is a combination of a sustainable approach, the drive to create social impact, and being a leader in this new market. This combination makes Sea Ranger Service attractive for us to invest in.”
The new vessel is expected to be deployed in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom from early 2024. For more information about the Sea Ranger Service, please visit: www.searangers.org
About PDENH:
PDENH was established by the Province of North Holland with the aim of stimulating the sustainable economy in North Holland. The fund invests in companies and projects focusing on the energy transition, circular economy, and sustainable mobility. The fund has a size of €85 million and has invested in more than 30 companies and initiatives since its inception. PDENH is managed by KplusV and Startgreen Capital. www.pdenh.nl
