Page 115 - Damen Shipyards Group

114 YARD FOCUS | 5 YEARS DAMEN SONG CAM 115

“We’ve made investments over the past few years

and now it’s time to make sure they deliver, not just
for us, but for the relevant Damen product groups
and business units and Damen’s entire commercial
newbuild activity around the world.”

equivalent to approximately 1 million man-hours.
“We could, at this stage, achieve 40 vessels per
year, over 1.3 million man hours, but we are a
little constrained by current market activity,”
says Joris van Tienen, the yard’s managing
director.

BROADENING HORIZONS HARVESTING INVESTMENT
Damen Song Cam has, up to now, focused on At this stage, Damen has constructed over 300
the production of tugs and fast crew supply vessels in Vietnam and, this year, Damen Song
vessels. This has already broadened as Damen Cam will deliver its 100 vessel – yard number
th
has expanded its tug portfolio with the next 513305, an ASD Tug 2813 for Italian client Moby.
generation series. However, both the harbour In order to facilitate its evolution, Damen Song
towage and offshore crew supply markets Cam continues to invest in the future. The latest
have experienced a slow-down in recent years. investments include the addition of a second
Damen Song Cam has the answer to this. floating jetty in 2017 and a new warehouse in
2018.
“We will broaden our portfolio to include more
of Damen’s product groups. In this way, we will “We’ve made investments over the past few years
minimise market dependency. We have already and now it’s time to make sure they deliver, not
started on this journey with, for example, this just for us, but for the relevant Damen product
year’s inclusion of the Fast Ferry 4212, the hull groups and business units and Damen’s entire
of which is supplied by our partner 189 Shipyard. commercial newbuild activity around the world.
Other options being considered include fishing
and aquaculture vessels. “That’s not to say we’ve completed our plans,
however, more changes are anticipated as we,
“In this way, we expect to facilitate a steady rise as part of Damen’s Yards in the Lead initiative,
towards completion of 40-50 vessels per year, take more responsibility for our own direction.
especially as our traditional markets begin to We will be expanding our capabilities across the
show the first signs of recovery now.” board, in terms of commissioning, engineering
and supply chain. Additionally, we are looking
As the yard’s portfolio broadens and its output to expand our role within the region. This will be
increases, it expects to recruit more personnel. multi-faceted, including acting as a Service Hub
Currently, Damen Song Cam employs 650 and a technical support pool as well as being
persons, with further roles indirectly resulting a supplier to Damen projects at non-Damen
from the yard’s activities; 950 in hull production yards in Vietnam as part of the Damen Technical
at Song Cam Shipyard and 120 working for Cooperation (DTC). Working closely together
suppliers. Here too, there is a shifting pattern as with the rest of the Damen Group gives me full
the yard evolves, with a decrease in the amount confidence that this process will be a success.”
of ex-pats and an increase in the number of local
employees.
SAFETY FIRST – NOW & ALWAYS
One thing that will not be changing is the yard’s
approach to safety; Damen Song Cam has an
“We have realised 2.3 million safe man-hours. Safety excellent track record in safety and Joris fully
intends to keep it that way.
remains – and will always remain – our number one
priority in all that we do.” “We are very proud of our achievements in
providing a safe workspace for our personnel
and suppliers. We have realised 2.3 million safe
man-hours. We are fully aware of the importance
of this and safety remains – and will always
remain – our number one priority in all that we
do.”