Regular contributors to PES, Damen are boat builders of some note. A major force in the European wind industry, they’ve carved a niche by tailoring their products to our precise needs. We spoke to the company’s Jan-Hein Reeringh and Remko Bouma.
PES: Welcome back to PES magazine. How’s business been since your last appearance – are you meeting your expectations?
Jan-Hein Reeringh: Yes, business is meeting our expectations. We’re steadily selling vessels for the offshore wind market, especially the FCS 2610 Twin Axe.
PES: And what’s your on-the-ground assessment of the market conditions in Europe right now?
JJFR: Market conditions for offshore wind are not bad, considering the total economy. There are still many offshore wind farms to be built and even more to be maintained over the next 30 years.
PES: What strategic decisions has the company taken to help it succeed in a difficult market?
JJFR: Several strategic decisions have been made, for example:
1. We’ve expanded our Customer Finance services, which is working out well.
2. In addition to shipbuilding at our yards, we offer:
a. the possibility of building your Damen vessel wherever you want, such as a yard in your own country or even at a location where we will first build a yard for the client who will then be able to build his ships there (usually, but not necessarily, with the assistance of Damen project team on site)
b. the possibility of lifecycle services (logical, because we know our own vessels best), including the new DAMOS system (maintenance planning software in which you can see everything about your vessel: what is located where; when does it need to be replaced or checked; how; by whom; where can it be ordered etc. And we’ve made it available in STE, Simplified Technical English)
3. Damen builds for stock. However, we’ve decided (with quite a few new designs) to start building completely new designs. Then, when the launching customer arrives at one point, the ship is already halfway or even completely finished, thereby speeding up delivery.
PES: We see that you’re about to launch the Offshore Carrier 7500 – would you like to introduce its main features and benefits?
Remko Bouma: Of course!
