Page 113 - Damen Shipyards Group

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112 YARD FOCUS | 5 YEARS DAMEN SONG CAM 113

YEARS YOUNG

ON ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY,
DAMEN SONG CAM SHIPYARD

LOOKS FORWARD

Damen Song Cam Shipyard is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.

Damen’s association with Vietnam goes back further than this. Before the

yard opened its doors, the shipyards group had built 226 vessels in the

country over a period of twelve years at five partner yards. One of these

yards was Song Cam.

ACCESSING A WEALTH OF SHIPBUILDING KNOW-HOW
During this time, it became clear to Damen that Vietnam was host to a
wealth of shipbuilding knowledge – enough, in fact to warrant a joint
venture with the Song Cam shipyard. The plan was to open not just any
yard, but a state-of-the-art, ultra-efficient production line, outfitting
standardised Damen hulls produced at Song Cam shipyard, at a rate
previously unseen.
Damen Song Cam Shipyard got off to an auspicious start, when on
th
March 20 2014, at a time appointed by favourable lunar conditions,
the country’s Vice Minister of Transport, Mr Nguyen Hong Truong, cut
the ribbon on the new facility.
Thus began a new operation at the 43-hectare site on the Cam River.
The credentials of the new yard were notable; direct access to the
open sea and sufficient space for a 120 x 85-metre outfitting hall, plus
extra room for extensive carpentry and painting workshops. The new
facilities were second to none; the joint venture made sure from the
start that the vessels it produced would be of the highest possible
standard.

DAMEN SHIPBUILDING PHILOSOPHY - OPTIMISED
To ensure utmost efficiency, Damen Song Cam insourced expertise
including for electrical engineering and commissioning for electrical,
hydraulic and HVAC systems. Furthermore, the yard implemented a
system whereby the work is taken directly to the vessel being outfitted.
Platforms alongside enable workers to get as close as possible to the
boat, while ample storage space is provided at the same level for tools,
equipment and components to avoid workers having to go up and
down repeatedly.

In this way, the yard quickly achieved the capability to complete
a Damen Tug in just one year, at a rate of 30 vessels per year –