Arnout Damen News

Damen Shipyards Group has launched a pilot project in which a small tug will be dismantled in a circular way and fully in line with the EU regulations.The project will serve as a trial, after which this approach of ‘green’ ship dismantling and recycling will be made available commercially, and also for larger vessels, according to Damen.The 15.4-meter-long tug named Jan, which was built in 1927, will be dismantled at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam’s Botlek site in line with the regulations…

Damen Naval and project partner NVL Group held a steel cutting ceremony at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast, Germany for the first new multipurpose frigates for the German Navy.“We are proud to be able to start cutting steel entirely on schedule on December 5. We were able to complete the development phase in record time, something that is partly due to the excellent cooperation with BAAINBW, the Navy and the other German authorities,” said Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen.

The Portuguese Navy has contracted Damen Shipyards Group for the design, construction and outfitting of a multi-purpose vessel.The contract was signed by Director of Ships Rear Admiral Jorge Pires and Damen Shipyards Group CCO Jan Wim Dekker. The project follows a European tender process and is funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that is part of NextGenerationEU (the economic recovery package to support EU member states affected by the COVID-19…

Japan-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, (MOL)  and Taiwan-based Ta Tong Marine Co. have through their joint venture Ta San Shang Marine Co. Ltd. (TSSM), signed a deal with the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards for the construction of a new service operation vessel (SOV).As TSSM's second Taiwan-flagged SOV, following Asia's first, the TSS Pioneer, which was delivered in 2022, the vessel is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2025 in Vietnam. The new CSOV, which will be methanol-ready will support offshore wind farms in Taiwan…

The Dutch Ministry of Defence, Damen, and Thales have signed the contract for the design, construction, and delivery of four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Frigates; two for the Netherlands and two for Belgium, focused on anti-submarine warfare.The agreement was signed on HNLMS Karel Doorman, the Royal Netherlands Navy's largest ship, by the Dutch Defence State Secretary Christophe van der Maat, Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen, Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene…

Offshore crew transfer company Windcat said Tuesday it had ordered two hydrogen-powered Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (“CSOVs”) from the Dutch company Damen Shipyards, with options for further vessels.The “Elevation Series” CSOVs have been designed by Damen Shipyards in cooperation with Windcat and CMB.TECH. The hydrogen-powered vessels will be 87 m long, 20 m wide, can accommodate 120 people on board. The first delivery is expected in 2025. Financial details were not disclosed.The CSOVs will be built at Ha Long Shipyard…

During the Maritime Awards Gala in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Kommer Damen was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his achievements, methods and contribution to the Dutch maritime industry. Damen (78) is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Damen Shipyards Group and is still internationally active in the company that he took over from his father and uncle in 1969.Kommer Damen is a member of the (Dutch) Maritime Council and Honorary Consul of Mexico. From 1988 to 2020 he was a board member of maritime industry association NMT (formerly VNSI).

Sparky, a new all-electric ship handling tugboat, has been christened in Auckland, New Zealand.The RSD-E Tug 2513 was built at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam for owner Ports of Auckland. Equipped with 2,784 kWh of batteries, the 70 tonne bollard pull harbor tug can undertake two or more assignments before being recharged—which takes about two hours—entirely emissions-free.In 2016, Ports of Auckland adopted the goal of becoming a zero emissions port by 2040, and its new tug Sparky is a key part of this green agenda…

As of April 1, Marc van Heyningen will become the new Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Damen Shipyards Group. This completes the Executive Board of the leading Dutch maritime solutions provider.Marc is a MSc in Civil Structural Engineering at Delft University and has spent the vast majority of his career working for Fluor Corporation in various general and operations management positions in, for example, The Netherlands, The UK, India and the USA. His last role was Vice President of Operations based in Fluor Company Headquarters in Dallas…

Arnout Damen will take over as CEO of Damen Shipyards Group effective January 1, as the the Dutch shipbuilding conglomerate transitions to a new divisional structure, the group announce on Monday.Arnout Damen succeeds René Berkvens, who has been the CEO of Damen Shipyards Group for more than 13 years."We are extremely indebted to René for his commitment as our company's top executive," said Chairman Kommer Damen. “Under his leadership, Damen has grown into a globally operating, leading player.

Dutch shipbuilding giant Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Société de Remorquage et de Travaux Maritimes (SNRTM) for the delivery of one Damen STu 1606 that shall operate in the Mediterranean Sea in Toulon, France.According to a press release from the manufacturer tugs and workboats, high speed crafts, ferries, offshore vessels, pontoons, the contract was signed in the Netherlands at Damen’s headquarters, between Eric Arnal, Managing Director of Société de Remorquage et de Travaux Maritimes and Arnout Damen, Chief Commercial Officer of Damen Shipyards Group.Société de Remorquage was founded in 1968 by Yves ARNAL (Mr. Eric Arnal's grand-father).

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a cooperation agreement of understanding with clean energy startup Skoon Energy to further advance the energy transition underway in the shipping industry.Skoon was founded in 2017 by Daan Geldermans and Peter Paul van Voorst, two students of the Delft University of Technology. The company focusses on the large-scale electrification of ships’ propulsion via management of a battery sharing network and strategically located charging hubs with a 100 percent clean energy supply.

At the Europort 2017 exhibition in Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards Group and Belgian ferry operator Aqualiner signed a contract for the delivery of three more Damen Waterbus 2407 vessels, for operations on the Scheldt in Antwerp. At the signing were Gerbrand Schutten (CEO Aqualiner), Maurice Swets (CEO Aqualiner), Dimitri Romijn (CFO Aqualiner), Arnout Damen (CCO Damen) and Jelle Meindertsma (Sales Manager Damen). The Waterbus 2407 is a new composite design from Damen, first unveiled just over a year ago.

Fine weather after a stormy morning and a wide range of vessels to view and try out on the water encouraged a good turnout of clients, industry partners and media at Damen’s second annual Workboat Festival. Held at Damen Shipyards’ HQ at Gorinchem, the event not only invited guests to experience a selection of smaller tugs, pilot boats, fast crew suppliers and a high-powered RIB, it also gave them the opportunity to explore themes that are very much at the forefront of the industry.

Damen Shipyards Group  has become the latest member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). Damen is the first European shipbuilder to join the WOC, the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. By focusing on optimizing ship design and working on product innovations, Damen works to  reduce environmental impacts of shipping. This has resulted in, for example, an in-house E3 label, applying only to new Damen designs that are Environmentally friendly, Efficient in operation and Economically viable.

Dutch-based Damen Shipyards Group has become the latest member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). The global shipbuilder headquartered in the Netherlands is the first European shipbuilder to join the WOC, the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. Damen works to reduce environmental impacts of shipping, by focusing on optimizing ship design and working on product innovations. This has resulted in, for example, the E3 label, applying to new Damen designs that are environmentally friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable. In addition, Damen recently formed partnerships with the Bellona Foundation, the Oslo-based institute for sustainable environmental solutions, and with the BlueTec Tidal Energy project.

With nine decades of operations in the shipbuilding industry under its belt, Damen has grown from small beginnings in the 1920s into a renowned maritime service provider that employs 9,000 people. The expansion of Dutch rooted Damen has been global, with growth that can be viewed in terms of its yards, service hubs and other subsidiary companies as well as a globally-operating client base. For 90 years, Damen’s vessel designs have served customers operating on all over the world. Damen was originally established by two brothers, Jan and Rien Damen, in 1927.

On May 18th, 2015, the Damen-built ART 80-32 Hybrid RotortugRT Evolution was named at the Greenwich Ship Tier in London during the cocktail reception of ‘Tugnology Conference’. Mrs Elizabeth Brunton-Reed, spouse of The ABR Company’s Chairman Mr Allan Brunton-Reed, performed the christening of RT Evolution in attendance of her family and Tugnology delegates. KOTUG chose the sponsor lady to express its appreciation and gratitude for the commitments and achievements of The ABR Company. KOTUG’s CEO Ard-Jan Kooren stated: “We are proud that Mrs Elizabeth Brunton-Reed accepted our invitation. KOTUG nowadays operate three hybrid Rotortugs. RT Adriaan and RT Evolution are operating in the Port of Rotterdam and RT Emotion commenced her towage activities in the German port of Bremerhaven recently.

Damen Shipyards Group has announced the opening of a new branch office in Houston, Texas. This expansion, under the name of Damen North America, meets the increasing demand for Damen’s shipbuilding concepts and repair and conversion services. The branch office – representing the Damen Shipyards Newbuild, and Damen Shiprepair & Conversion businesses across North America and Canada – has decided to open offices in the heart of the Energy Corridor of Houston. “Establishing an office…

On June 18, 2015, the Damen-built ART 80-32 Hybrid Rotortug RT Emotion was named in the Port of Bremerhaven during KOTUG’s annual Herring Party. Annika Bootsman-Kleberg, Member of the Wallenius’ Board and granddaughter of Olof Wallenius, Swedish entrepreneur and founder of Wallenius Lines, performed the naming of RT Emotion in attendance of her family, friends, KOTUG’s business relations and representatives of Damen Shipyards Group. KOTUG chose the Lady Sponsor to express its…

The naming ceremony of the Bibby WaveMaster 1 took place on September 6,  at the cruise terminal in the Port of Rotterdam in front of more than 125 guests from the U.K.-based Bibby Group, Damen and a range of industry partners. More than 10 members of the Bibby family attended while the Damen family was represented by Chief Commercial Officer Arnout Damen. The naming, by Lady Sponsor Jacky Blaikie, is the culmination of a program that began nearly four years ago to develop a vessel that could meet the needs of the offshore wind industry in an efficient…

Damen’s new SeaXplorer yacht range brings true capability to expedition yachting, from extreme polar to remote tropical areas. The world’s first purpose-built, Polar Code compliant range of expedition yachts has been launched by Dutch shipbuilder Damen and its luxury superyacht division, Amels. Making its debut this week at the Monaco Yacht Show, the 65- to 100-meter SeaXplorer range includes three designs holding the capability to explore the seas’ extremes, from the poles to the tropics and everywhere in between.

On 23 November 2015, Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar celebrated its first 5 years of operation. With 40 vessels delivered or under construction, the yard has proven its capability to support Qatar’s national strategy for economic diversification. Damen Chief Commercial Officer Arnout Damen. NDSQ was established in 2010 as a joint venture between Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (Nakilat) and Damen Shipyards Group. Located in the northeastern corner of Qatar, the yard is ideally positioned in the middle of the Arabian Gulf and able to build ships up to 170 metres in length in steel, aluminium and composites. By building these vessels in Qatar, Mr Damen says that NDSQ is supporting the economic diversification and development strategy in the Qatar National Vision 2030.