Milestone in the restoration of the Insulinde

Today was a special day in the restoration of the Insulinde: both Gleniffer engines have been hoisted out of the ship! This marks an important step towards the moment when the Insulinde can return to the water under its own power.

The engines will soon depart for Motorenrevisie Spaarnestad in Haarlem. There, they will be fully overhauled and prepared for a sustainable future. After the overhaul, the engines will be able to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a fossil-free synthetic diesel. This reduces CO₂ emissions by approximately 90%, while preserving the authentic engines. In this way, we combine historical heritage with today's technology.

Revolutionary design

The Insulinde was built in 1927 and is one of the most iconic lifeboats in the Netherlands. She is, in fact, the world's first self-righting steel motor lifeboat, thereby representing a breakthrough in maritime safety. Thanks to its revolutionary design, the ship can right itself after capsizing. Today, the Insulinde is a piece of maritime heritage that makes Dutch rescue work tangible for current and future generations.

Towards 100 years of the Insulinde

In 2027, the Insulinde will celebrate its hundredth anniversary. Our goal is to celebrate this special anniversary with a fully restored and seaworthy lifeboat. This is only possible thanks to the tremendous dedication of our volunteers, the cooperation of specialized companies, the support of funds, and the involvement of donors.

Would you like to help us further? You can do so by donating or by creating your own fundraising page via our crowdfunding. By sharing your involvement in the project with friends, family, and acquaintances, you not only help to raise funds but also to keep the special story of the Insulinde alive.

Together, we ensure that this unique piece of Dutch rescue heritage can continue to tell its story for the next hundred years.