De Zonnebloem is a passenger ship that has been specially designed for the transport of people in need of care and disabled people. It belongs to the Dutch voluntary aid organization De Zonnebloem . After the first ship of the same name in twenty years had given almost 47,000 disabled people the opportunity to travel by ship, it no longer met today's requirements.
The ship's equipment meets all requirements for handicapped-accessible accommodation and care for passengers. For the 69 passengers there are 11 single cabins and 29 double cabins, which are equipped with radio, television, emergency call system and height-adjustable beds. A bathroom with shower, toilet and automatic doors is installed for every two cabins. All cabins and bathrooms have a ceiling lift system with which the disabled can be moved. The entire facility is wheelchair accessible. The ship also has a wellness bath, hairdressing salon, beauty salon, library , laundry, medical treatment room and Internet café . Bed-ridden passengers can be brought to the upper deck with their beds using two elevators. In most of the rooms there are oxygen connections and allergy sufferers were taken into account when choosing the building materials used.
The 66 volunteers are accommodated in 33 double cabins on the lower deck, plus twelve cabins for the permanent crew. Every year 2,850 disabled passengers can undertake a trip where they are looked after around the clock.
Technical specifications
Drive = 2 × Caterpillar 3508 each 783 kW at 1,600 rpm via 2 × Schottel Twin STP 440 with each 650 kW electric motor
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