Quinto Shipping’s 110-meter tanker ‘mts Quinto’: a new chapter in a close-knit family business

The tanker, designed by Concordia Damen and outfitted by its trusted partner CCM3, combines high cargo capacity with low resistance and shallow draft – ideal for the varying water levels on European waterways.

“We were ready for something new,” says Nick Nanninga, who co-manages Quinto Shipping alongside his brother Renko. “We used to operate coupled barges, but that became quite intensive and lost its appeal. We wanted to feel excited again, to look forward to stepping onboard every day. With this vessel, we have that feeling.”

From container to tanker: a deliberate choice

The choice for Concordia Damen’s CDS 110 was driven by its efficient sailing profile and spacious accommodations. “Many people choose a vessel primarily as a ‘moneymaker’, but Renko and I wanted to reinvent ourselves,” explains Nick. “We carefully considered our options and decided on a tanker, partly due to the entirely different business operations.”

Their father, Luijt Nanninga, has known Chris Kornet from Concordia Damen for years, as, back in the day, their ships occasionally moored alongside each other. “Of course, our father remains involved and closely follows the outfitting process—we remain a true family business.”

Why a CDS Tanker 110?

Nick: “The vessel combines low resistance and shallow draft with substantial cargo capacity—exactly what we needed! This allows us to sail to nearly any destination in Europe, which is beneficial for our operational reliability. Additionally, the vessel’s sailing profile makes our operations more environmentally friendly per ton of transported cargo. These are all crucial characteristics given the current challenges on the Rhine.”

Flexible and customer-oriented; hence…a dual piping system

What makes the mts Quinto special is its dual piping system, allowing simultaneous transportation of two types of cargo in its eight tanks without intermediate cleaning—such as biodiesel and gas oil.

Quinto secured a customer early in the process. “Through a friendly skipper, Stetra BV, we got in touch with this customer. He told us, ‘If you want to sail the way it’s meant to be, talk to this German company.’ We did exactly that. The customer wanted a dual piping system, and we were happy to accommodate their request. I believe this willingness to meet our customers’ needs, even during the shipbuilding process, sets us apart. That’s what makes us unique, I think.”

Building success together

The vessel’s construction is managed by CCM3, Concordia Damen’s regular outfitting partner. “We are closely involved,” says Nick. “Our family visited the hull-building yard in Serbia three times, another regular partner of Concordia Damen. I found the experience well-organized; not once did I feel it was purely business. They gave me the sense of collaboration. That’s a major strength of Concordia. Both at the yard in Serbia and here in Werkendam – with Chris, Bert, and Bart – it’s very nice to experience that personal touch. No boasting, just a willingness to tackle things together. Of course, there are the occasional bumps along the way, but we’ve overcome those together.”

Keep on entrepreneuring!

After several challenging years – including the 2008 financial crisis – this investment marks a significant milestone for Quinto Shipping. “It was difficult to keep our heads above water when the financial crisis hit, but we managed to recover. That wasn’t the only setback our family faced, but Renko and I always persevered,” says Nick.

“And now we have built an entirely new, modern ship – complete with a customer onboard! It feels amazing. Such achievements can only be reached by continued entrepreneurship and perseverance, something Renko and I learned from our father. You can feel it within our family, too; we’re much more at peace now. In short, we’re back in the game – and loving it!”

Smooth sailing

“Over the past two years, my brother and I have temporarily captained various ships to maintain our expertise. Now, with our own vessel, we operate on a ‘two weeks on, one week off’ schedule. The mts Quinto was christened on April 5, and we’re already fully operational!”