Page 111 - Damen Shipyards Group

110 MARKET FOCUS | ROPAX 111
FINANCING FERRIES
Damen Customer Finance, together with the customer, aims to fi nd
the most suitable fi nancing solution. A large, complex vessel like a
RoRo or RoPax vessel is a capitally-intensive project, for which the
correct fi nancing approach can make all the difference, whether
it is related to a promising business model or is supported by a
government entity. To that end, Damen closely cooperates with
Atradius Dutch State Business, the Export Credit Agency of the “ WE’ VE OVER 40 YE ARS’ E XPERIENCE IN
Netherlands with an AAA-rating. It should ease discussions to fi nd a ENABLING OUR CLIENTS TO ARR ANGE
fi nancing solution that is benefi cial to the client’s needs. AT TR AC TIVE, TAILORED FINANCING
For the RoPax market, Damen has assigned Customer Finance PACK AGES. DURING THAT TIME WE
manager Herman van Bueren to support clients. “We’ve over 40 HAVE DEVELOPED LONG -STANDING
years’ experience in enabling our clients to arrange attractive, REL ATIONSHIPS WITH NATIONAL AND
tailored fi nancing packages. During that time we have developed INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS,
long-standing relationships with national and international E XPORT CREDIT INSURERS, INVESTORS
commercial banks, export credit agencies, investors and multilateral AND MULTIL ATER AL INSTITUTIONS.”
institutions.”

Herman’s outlook is very positive. “The current legislative climate
is favourable for the fi nancing of sustainable vessels,” he says. “As
Damen applies its expertise in sustainability to the propulsion of
Damen applies its expertise in sustainability to the propulsion of
its RoPax vessels, this encourages more favourable terms from
its RoPax vessels, this encourages more favourable terms from
fi nanciers, and the benefi ts end up in the pockets of the clients.”
fi nanciers, and the benefi ts end up in the pockets of the clients.”

DANISH - DUTCH DESIGN DUO
ROPA X AND RORO REPAIR AND SERVICES DANISH - DUTCH DESIGN DUO
“IN ORDER TO QUICKLY AND Damen has served the RoPax and RoRo market previously, Via Damen Shipyards Group member, Denmark-based KNUD E.
Via Damen Shipyards Group member, Denmark-based KNUD E.
EFFEC TIVELY ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN having constructed vessels upwards of 100 metres on numerous HANSEN, Damen is able to offer a design team well versed in such
THE MARKETPL ACE, WE’ VE ASSIGNED A occasions at Damen Shipyards Galați, in Romania. Additionally, the vessels. KNUD E. HANSEN has extensive experience in the design of
TE AM TO QUICKLY BUILD A NET WORK shipyards group operated numerous, strategically-located ship RoPax vessels.
AND A KNOWLEDGE BASE . THE repair yards from which is already serves the RoPax and RoRo R&D
DEPARTMENT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY market with repair and maintenance services. Damen’s relationship with the accomplished design company goes Damen participates in numerous R&D and innovation programmes,
DAMEN’S GLOBAL INFR ASTRUC TURE, back a number of years, and has borne products from numerous both in-house and in collaboration with industry partners. Amongst
SYNERGISING KNOWLEDGE WITHIN “Many of our repair yards are ideally situated to serve our clients’ collaborations such as Ice Class ferries for the Canadian government. these programmes are several that aim at innovating for the RoRo
THE DAMEN GROUP AND THE WIDER requirements,” says Chiel. “Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque and The acquisition of the yard in Mangalia offers both parties the and RoPax segment.
SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY.” Damen Shiprepair Brest sit close to cross-channel ferry routes, for chance to collaborate on larger vessels, in which KNUD E. HANSEN’s
example, while Damen Verolme Rotterdam, Damen Shiprepair experience and expertise will play a vital role. This includes, for example, the steps Damen is taking towards greater
Rotterdam and Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam are well located for sustainability in the maritime industry. Increasing environmental
North Sea services. “KNUD E. HANSEN has a long track record in providing newbuild as awareness, combined with increasingly stringent regulations is a
“To meet the demands of the work, the RoPax Product well as refi t designs to all sectors of the maritime industry, but it is further stimulus for new ferries. To these ends, Damen is working
Management Team, responsible for product development, is “Backed up by our Harbour & Voyage Repair team and our most renowned for its work on passenger vessels,” says Chiel. “We towards several solutions, across a broad spectrum, including
rapidly growing, drawing talent from many countries including international network of Service Hubs, along with globally are very fortunate to have such an experienced player as our partner ballast water treatment systems, an air cavitation system, emissions
Spain, Argentina and Finland,” says Huib. available service engineers, we are confi dently able to offer for this new venture.” scrubbers, electric and LNG propulsions systems.
support to our clients, wherever they are in the world at whatever
The complex process of product development comprises myriad stage of their vessels’ lifecycle.” Damen is also working on remote monitoring, by which condition-
input streams such as mobilisation of internal departments on “BACKED UP BY OUR HARBOUR & VOYAGE based maintenance can be carried out to ensure maximum uptime.
Research and Development, external validation of designs, project REPAIR TE AM AND OUR INTERNATIONAL Furthermore, studying AIS information contributes to developing the
planning and coordination, support of the whole tender process, NET WORK OF SERVICE HUBS, ALONG WITH most effi cient design as well as effi cient sailing, further increasing
and production of cost-price calculations. The team is in direct GLOBALLY AVAIL ABLE SERVICE ENGINEERS, WE sustainability.
contact with the shipyard in Mangalia and with suppliers around ARE CONFIDENTLY ABLE TO OFFER SUPPORT
the world, developing the most technically appropriate proposal TO OUR CLIENTS, WHEREVER THE Y ARE IN The shipyard group’s work with hardware in the loop (HIL) has already
to create the most effi cient product defi nition tailored to the THE WORLD AT WHATEVER STAGE OF THEIR demonstrated its effectiveness in different sectors, including offshore,
requirements of each client for each specifi c route. VESSEL S’ LIFECYCLE .” allowing testing to take place digitally before investment in real world
construction.