In Frankfurt a new company for steam transport between the Netherlands and as high upstream as the Main was founded in 1844.
Van Vlissingen traveled to Frankfurt to compete for an order of iron steam vessels and lighters for steam service on the Rhine.
He managed to secure an order for two tugboats and 16 lighters with a capacity of 4500  quintals for 450,000 guilders.
For building these ships a shipyard was created on Oostenburg north of the factory, where the shipyard of the old Dutch East India Company had once stood.
The company issued a tender for the construction of a wooden roof with walls of 130 by 20 meters.

Van Vlissingen next competed for an order from a newly founded steam tug service in Düsseldorf.
By helping to raise capital for this company in Amsterdam, he also managed to secure this second order.
The Düsseldorf order was for two tugboats and 10 lighters, amounting to 400,000 guilders.
In September 1847 the Frankfurt company placed a new order of one tugboat of 200 hp, one tugboat of 100 hp and eight lighters.
Similar orders would follow for steam navigation on the Po and for the Dutch East Indies.
In these years many iron ships were built, but not many large steamships, apart from those were Van Vlissingen was also involved in the exploitation.

A breakthrough could have come from Belgium.
In 1855 the steam ships Constitution and Belgique, 84.5 m long were launched.
In Frankfurt a new company for steam transport between the Netherlands and as high upstream as the Main was founded in 1844. Van Vlissingen traveled to Frankfurt to compete for an order of iron steam vessels and lighters for steam service on the Rhine. He managed to secure an order for two tugboats and 16 lighters with a capacity of 4500  quintals for 450,000 guilders. For building these ships a shipyard was created on Oostenburg north of the factory, where the shipyard of the old Dutch East India Company had once stood. The company issued a tender for the construction of a wooden roof with walls of 130 by 20 meters.
Van Vlissingen next competed for an order from a newly founded steam tug service in Düsseldorf. By helping to raise capital for this company in Amsterdam, he also managed to secure this second order. The Düsseldorf order was for two tugboats and 10 lighters, amounting to 400,000 guilders. In September 1847 the Frankfurt company placed a new order of one tugboat of 200 hp, one tugboat of 100 hp and eight lighters. Similar orders would follow for steam navigation on the Po and for the Dutch East Indies. In these years many iron ships were built, but not many large steamships, apart from those were Van Vlissingen was also involved in the exploitation.
A breakthrough could have come from Belgium. In 1855 the steam ships Constitution and Belgique, 84.5 m long were launched.
Van Vlissingen en Dudok van Heel