Dutch shipbuilders and suppliers often travel all around the globe to promote their products hoping to do business. But interesting markets and willing clients can also be found just around the corner. And don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a plane to South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, or other interesting markets overseas to make deals and bring in money. But sometimes the deals can also be found right here in Europe itself.
Big, world-class Damen, as well as Holland Shipyards, Neptune, both Bodewes yards, Ferus Smit and, in this May edition, Nauplius and NG Shipyards know that there are also orders to be won and money to be made in Europe itself. And not, like the Spanish used to do and the French recently did with the acquisition of the submarine order by buying orders, but by offering craftsmanship and quality at a fair price.
Fascinating is the story of Damen sales manager Frederik van der Linde on how Damen has secured a very strong position in the British market. Damen’s success there is partly based on what has made Damen great, ships large and small based on standard designs that function well for years and provide income for their owners.
The invitation came from the organisation behind the Seawork exhibition, but some research revealed that the British market is quite important for many Dutch shipbuilders. And the UK may have left the EU because, in Boris Johnson’s caricatured depiction, it no longer wanted to be dictated by the tyranny of the European Commission. But that does not mean that the UK, unlike the EU, has suddenly fallen into barbarism. The UK is also seriously working on making shipping more sustainable.
Also read: SWZ|Maritime’s April 2024 issue: Innovative inland navigation
In that respect, it was very instructive for yours truly to see what the Brits are doing and, in my opinion, this has resulted in an interesting series of articles on maritime business in the UK and what Dutch shipbuilders are successful with in this market. And as a Dutchman, you can be quite proud if, when visiting a British port, especially a smaller one, it turns out to be full of ships made in the Netherlands.
But this May edition also offers real firsts in the form of articles by new, young contributors to SWZ|Maritime. Italy’s Elena Prato reports first-hand on IMO’s deliberations in its efforts to make shipping more sustainable. A second article worth reading is by Rui Costa, from Portugal, who gives us insight into the latest developments in maritime drones.
This is editor-in-chief Antoon Oosting’s editorial accompanying the May 2024 issue.
Also read: SWZ|Maritime’s March 2024 issue: Ports, dredging, and strategy
SWZ Archive
Our digital archive is once again available to subscribers and they can read the digitial version of our May issue there. Subscribers can register here to gain access. Not yet a subscriber? Visit our subscription page.
Also read: SWZ|Maritime’s February 2024 issue: Dredging, a strategic industry
The articles in SWZ|Maritime’s May issue
In addition to the regular sections such as Dutch news, Markets, Global news, book reviews, news from the KNVTS and Mars Report, the articles in the May issue are:
- MARIN introduces its Seven Oceans Simulator Centre
- Seawork marks 25th year: Dutch NMT pavilion debut
- Flourishing maritime trade between UK and NL
- UK provides important and loyal clients for Damen
- NG-designed monomaran crew tenders save fuel
- Nauplius builds boats for fish farming
- The EU and the decarbonisation of ships
- Unmanned: An ongoing naval technology revolution
- Can IMO catch up with the EU Green Deal?
- Passing the baton of the CEDA presidency
- Advancing sustainability in dredging
Picture: The UK aquaculture industry has become an important market for Dutch shipbuilders. In 2023, for example, Nauplius Workboats delivered the Isaac Eslea, a hybrid aquaculture service vessel, to Inverlussa Marine Services (photo Nauplius, cover picture of SWZ|Maritime’s May 2024 issue).
Also read: SWZ|Maritime’s January 2024 issue: An education and labour market special
