Developments within Ship and Yacht Repair

Ships are being built, but also sometimes need to be repaired. Repair yards form therefore an important part of the shipbuilding industry. Three yards give an insight into how the past year has treated them and what they plan to do to secure their future. Even though the economic climate is tough, these stories prove that a crisis can also mean new beginnings and new customers. 

Ship repair yard Hoebee

“This is the right moment”, states Wim Kooiman, director of Shipyard Hoebee. Hoebee is currently working on expanding their yard. As part of the Kooiman groep, the yard was able to make the required investment feasible. An investment that will help them attract new clients as well as improve their service for the existing customers. Kooiman: “Our customers are very loyal, we are lucky to have them.”

The ship repair yard resides in Dordrecht, the Netherlands on the banks of the Merwede river, which is vital to Dutch inland shipping. It is no coincidence then that Hoebee cater to inland shipping vessels and short sea vessels, from coasters and pontoons to barges, all are welcomed. Kooiman: “The first months of 2011 went well, the last few months were very quiet. We needed to evaluate how we were going to survive. What do we need to do to attract new customers?”

Larger and heavier vessels

As vessels are becoming larger and heavier, it was important to Hoebee not to have to say no to its customers. The expansion will mean that the yard will be able to say yes, which is promising for the future. Thanks to the cooperation with the Kooiman group, the investment was possible for Hoebee. Before the work was done the yard could repair vessels up to 110 metres, soon they will be able to allow vessels up to 150 metres to come in for work. Kooiman comments: “The length is not the only important change, we will also be able to welcome heavier vessels.”

Expanding the yard

The expansion of the yard coincides with the build of a new side slipway. With a lifting power of up to 4,200 tons, it will be a welcome addition to the yard. “The new slipway will allow for a better spreading of capacity. Next to that, speed can be guaranteed, which means that we can get boats onto the slipway in half the time we used to be able to. Furthermore, we will have more capacity. More lifting power, quicker lifting and more capacity. Very promising”, says Kooiman.

Learning the trade

The yard consists of 65 employees and Kooiman is pleased to say there are a number of younger people working at the yard. “Training is part of learning the trade. We need the next generation to understand their work”, says Kooiman. “It is nice to see how the younger employees start out as wild pups, eventually they settle down, with their wives en possibly kids. That is when you see your hard work has paid off.” Work on the

yard will be finished in April, which will allow for testing before the grand opening in June of 2012. Kooiman concludes: “As we say in the Netherlands, we will be fishing in a new pond. This is a promising step towards our future. We are looking forward to it.”

Smelne Yachtcenter

Smelne focuses on yachts from eight to 16 metres. “Our customers are very much part of the repair and building process of their yacht”, states Wypke Veenje, director of Smelne Yachtcenter. The small yacht repair company has a 27,000 m2 yard in Drachten, the Netherlands. It boasts an outer port with 90 berths as well as a covered harbour with a further 34 berths. The yard offers more than yacht repair, they also focus on steel new builds, the sale of yachts and refits.

Efficiency thanks to upgrade

During an economically difficult year, Smelne Yachtcenter have been developing to offer their customers extra service by renewing their harbours. This development opens the possibility to larger and heavier yachts. Veenje: “We also need more room to store all the yachts we facilitate. During the upgrade of the yard one of the three access ramps was damped, as most of the lifting is done by the 40 ton hydraulic boat lift. Next to that the environmentally friendly maintenance container with oil and bilgewater storage is more accessible, meaning our repairmen can work more efficiently.”

Industry based on emotions

“A tough year can help you evaluate what to do, we decided to invest in our company while we can. There are no actual trends regarding repair. We have noticed that yachts are becoming increasingly more about luxury and comfort. A second home on the water. We cater to
customers who enjoy pleasure cruising. This is an industry very much based on emotions”, concludes Veenje.

Oranjewerf Ship Repair

“Our year was not so bad”, explains Jeen van der Werf, commercial manager at Oranjewerf when asked how the yard fared last year. “Of course it was not an easy year, tough at times, but I believe we did quite well.” The repair yard in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has 35 employees and caters to many industries from tugs, fishery and dredging to (inland) shipping. Van der Werf: “The offshore industry is our main client, closely followed by dredging.”

Machine factory and side slipway

The yard can handle vessels up to 135 metres and has a machine factory to assist in the various repair activities. Furthermore Oranjewerf boasts a 6,000 ton dry dock and a side slipway which is often used for inland shipping vessels, up to 100 metres. “I believe the coming year will be a lot like 2011”, states Van der Werf. “We cannot complain about the past year, but 2012 will be difficult, like most companies in the ship repair industry will agree with. The prices are under pressure and planning remains a struggle. Luckily, we have a steady group of loyal customers, who know where to find us.”

Unique projects

Though 2011 was perhaps not economically fruitful, the yard did have some interesting projects. “We have just finished work on a special 90 metre diving support vessel and last year we did the inspection on the Clipper Stad Amsterdam, a 78 metre sailing vessel initiated by an agglomeration of cities in the Netherlands and the city of Amsterdam. A unique project.” The coming year may prove difficult, yet the yard seems more than capable of weathering this economic storm.

Rebecca McFedries