m.s. Cobra in Kallo Quay 1209

Arriving on Quay 1209, I hear a voice calling:

“Just park your car next to the reef, it’s not ok where you just parked it, there will be  a crane within a few minutes”

Just a little bit later the ‘’big boy’’ sets itself in position. A pile of wood is already hanging in the straps. Dockers climb down. These men open the holds of the Cobra. Twenty-two tonnes of heavy coils have been delivered from a warehouse to the quay. The enormous Liebherr crane swings these coils into the hold of the barge.  Antwerp, just go for it!

Nowadays, you need a charterer like Nautica, who offers variety in work, who has a reliable name in the barging industry. They have, amongst many other things, a planning in mind which is mostly seen from the point of view of the barge owner!

‘’Our appointment at the quay was planned at 9 a. m. and we saw the first coils hanging in the crane exactly on time.  We prefer to rush between destinations. Customers get their service, it is nearly  impossible to be more efficient than this ” according to Henk Drost.

Twenty years ago, Nautica chartered the barge Cobra for a first trip.  Henk liked the fact that they kept word, and soon Henk joined the regular Nautica fleet. Stones or scrap or other kind of cargo, inland shipping is a means to earn money, also the reason why he always tries to get a bit extra moneywise.

I might be a ………, but I am also very demanding towards myself!

I am always a merchant and need to achieve good results.

Once agreement is reached, he goes for it. Loading slightly deeper than usual, on the condition that it is well paid, that’s his challenge.

Henk sells his business but never his soul!

Born on a barge (he is now 52 years old) and well trained by his parents on their barge.

It was in 1986 when he started working, standing next to his father-in-law in the wheelhouse  of a  container barge .

Eventually in 1990, Henk and his wife Conny started their own business on a’ Dortmunder’

Since 2007, he has been barging on a 110 metres vessel built in Orsova.

Conny lives on shore and takes care of the family. She is also a host parent for 5 children, and the financial specialist of the family. She drives many kilometres to come aboard every weekend.

Their son Patrick is one of the helmsmen on the barge Cobra.

What do you do when you have some time off?

You mean a like a hobby? Sailing is my one and only hobby but I also like gardening a bit when I am at home. I also like  reading a nice book and  I love to go out for  a proper meal in a restaurant .

Most of the time  I am  on board and yes: if we spot a place where we can eat kebab, we will certainly stop and do some  ‘’quality research”.

Would you choose to be a barge owner if you could do it all over again?

Yes, but be better prepared and be older than 16 years. You learn on the job,  and after a while, you become an independent entrepreneur,

Sure , it is a nice kind of freedom as long as you can fulfil your financial obligations and preferably earn a bit more.  Only then will you enjoy your independence the most.

The last two years, our business has gone quite well, but before then there was the crisis.  That was a kind of a feeling of survival.

Nevertheless, barging is ok, and it is nice if you can have some time off as well.

Happiness is something you need to seize when it is there, it will not come to you by itself.