This is the ferry in the background of the private Dutch stamp.
The SCHULPENGAT was from 1990 to 2005 the flagship of the Royal NV Texel Steam Boat Company and was built by the Verolme Shipyard Heusden. She can carry 242 cars, 1750 passengers and has two motor-bike galleries. There is a lounge deck and the saloon deck was divided into smoking and non-smoking areas separated by a buffet. However, smoking is now prohibited throughout the SCHULPENGAT. Since the spring of 2007, the ship was relegated to reserve carrier with the commissioning of the DOKTER WAGEMAKER and the decommissioning of the sister ship MOLENGAT in 2008.
In 1998, the Dutch Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), which is based at the ferry dock in 't Horntje installed measuring equipment under the SCHULPENGAT. This data is transmitted and can be seen on a screen in the saloon areas.
In the first quarter of 2007, the SCHULPENGAT underwent a refit and now has many of the characteristics of the DOKTER WAGEMAKER. She was also painted in the new livery of TESO. There are plans for her to be replaced in 2015.
Yard Verolme Shipyard, Heusden, Netherlands
Launch 28 July 1990
Into service 20 December 1990
Status Active, reserve, 1st ship
Homeport Texel
Tonnage 8311 GRT
Passengers 1750
Cost price Dutch fl 70,000,000,
Carrying capacity 1215 dwt
IMO number 8802313
Flag Netherlands
Length 110.40 meters
Width 18.70 meters
Draft 3.80 meters
Propulsion and Power 6 Caterpillar 3600 diesel engines , each 1600 kW/2100 horsepower. Four Voith Schneider propellers, 1,250 kW each
Speed 11.5 knots (max. 14.4)
Owner Texel Steam Boat Company
Type RoRo / ferry
Call Letters PHJY
Capacity 242 cars
Crew 9
The attached photo shows the SCHULPENGAT, in the old TESO colours, arriving at Den Helder on 14/7/2000.
Sources: Wikipedia; https://www.teso.nl/en/
Peter Crichton
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