The construction of new sea-going vessels in the Netherlands is on the rise. In 2023, 34 ocean-going vessels were completed. This is equivalent to an estimated value of EUR 410 million and a significant increase over 2022. This follows from Netherlands Maritime Technology’s Sector Annual Report.
At the end of 2023, there were 98 ocean-going vessels in the order book, with a total value of about EUR 1.5 billion. In addition, Dutch shipyards also built many inland vessels and superyachts. Netherlands Maritime Technology (NMT) will officially present its Sector Annual Report (Sectorjaarspecial) on Friday, June 21.
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Sustainability efforts contribute to positive outlook
One reason for this growth is sustainability. Many ships need to be replaced or modified. This is in line with the Maritime Master Plan. This plan was drawn up by the maritime sector and aims to develop, build and use reliable and competitive climate-neutral ships in the Netherlands.
This edition of Netherlands Maritime Technology’s Sector Annual Report features several players from the maritime manufacturing industry. One of them is Carlijn Bodewes (Royal Bodewes) who indicates that the Maritime Master Plan helps shipyards choose directions for the future.
Sustainability and the related Maritime Master Plan contribute to the positive outlook for the growth of the industry in the coming years. This growth is good news for the strategic autonomy of the Netherlands as also described in the Maritime Manufacturing Sector Agenda.
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2023 in numbers
Newbuilding sea-going vessels
Total employment in the Dutch maritime technology sector was 33,875 FTE, which is 2.9% more than in 2022 (32,907 FTE). Total employment was divided into 12,327 FTE employed by shipyards and 21,548 FTE by maritime suppliers. Total turnover of the Dutch maritime technology sector increased by 10% compared to 2022 to EUR 8.8 billion.
The slow upward trend of recent years has continued for newbuilding (seagoing vessels of 100 GT and above, excluding superyachts and fishing vessels) in 2023. In 2023, 34 seagoing vessels (143,530 CGT) were delivered with a combined estimated value of about EUR 410 million, 72% more than the 31 vessels (102,000 CGT) with a value of EUR 297 million in 2022. A total of fifty new orders (218,830 CGT) were secured with a total value of EUR 876 million, up 44% from 2022.
There were 98 ocean-going vessels (490,519 CGT) in the order book at the end of 2023, with a total value of around EUR 1.5 billion. The order book has grown significantly compared to 2022, when it included 82 seagoing vessels (289,000 CGT) with a combined value of EUR 1.1 billion.
Ship repair
2023 was another good year for repair yards. Turnover increased compared to 2022 and employment also showed a slight increase. Dock occupancy was good with an increase of almost 5% compared to 2022.
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Superyachts
By the end of 2023, the Netherlands held the third position in the world in respect of the number of yachts (all types of yachts from 24 metres in length) in the order book and even second in terms of total volume. Nineteen superyachts (57,056 CGT) with a total value of EUR 1.277 billion were delivered. These figures are similar to those of 2021 and 2022, but are significantly higher than those of previous years.
In 2023, fourteen orders (43.115 CGT) were placed for new superyachts with a total value of EUR 1.389 billion. The number
of superyachts in the order book (excluding the eleven built on speculation with a total value of between EUR 500 and 600 million) at the end of 2023 was slightly lower than the previous year, with 64 (258.050 CGT, value EUR 6.650 billion) compared to 69 (278.180 CGT, value EUR 6.594 billion) in 2022.
Nonetheless, the total value of the order book increased by 1.6%, reaching EUR 6.650 billion. The length of the superyachts in the order book varies between 24 and 120 metres, including 22 yachts with a length of 79 metres or more. Furthermore, some Dutch yards also focused on the refit of superyachts.
Inland shipping, fishing, dredging and small seagoing vessels up to 100 GT
In 2023, shipyards in this category received construction orders for 111 vessels (189,416 GT), an increase of five compared to 2022 (106 vessels, 124,205 GT). 97 ships (108,560 GT) were delivered, ten more when compared to the 87 (82,676 GT) in 2022. The order book rose to 150 ships (268,933 GT). That was 142 ships (193,799 GT) a year earlier.
By 2023, 52 tankers and dry cargo vessels (94,250 GT) had been delivered. This was an increase on the forty (60,000 GT) in 2022. The order intake was higher at 64 (174,850 GT) compared to 2022, when 54 orders were placed.
Noteworthy is that more larger vessels were ordered compared to the previous year. The order book at the end of 2023 for cargo-carrying vessels grew from 84 (166,250 GT) to 94 (241,150 GT), but in terms of GT, the size of the order book increased more than 40%.
The river cruise sector improved in 2023 compared to 2022. Four newbuilding orders were placed with Dutch outfitting yards in 2023. At the end of 2023, there were eleven river cruisers (18,280 GT) in the order book. Delivered in 2023 were six river cruisers (9610 GT).
For fishery, 2023 was another lean year. The future of fishing is not promising due to planned wind farms, stricter legislation and high fuel prices. Only three new fishing vessels were delivered and the number of new orders fell from three in 2022 to one in 2023. The order book included four vessels at the end of 2023.
The number of deliveries of workboats, tugs and pushers remained about the same at fourteen in 2023. The order book included nineteen vessels at the end of 2023. In the small dredging equipment segment, order intake increased from fifteen in 2022 to 25 in 2023.
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Suppliers
For some time now, there has been an upturn in the global shipbuilding market, both in newbuilding and repair and maintenance, and due to the trend of further sustainability and digitalisation in the maritime sector. This has favourable implications for the businesses in the maritime manufacturing industry.
The total turnover of Dutch maritime suppliers rose again in 2023, this year by 11% to EUR 4.6 billion
(2022: EUR 4.2 billion). The number of own employees rose from 18,577 in 2022 to 18,971 in 2023. The number of hired workers increased to 2577 people.
Challenges
The annual review not only brings good news, there are plenty of challenges ahead for the industry. The Sector Annual Report discusses challenges associated with maintaining and strengthening the strategic autonomy. These include the tight labour market, rising inflation and the transition to sustainable energy.
In SWZ|Maritime’s upcoming Dutch shipbuilding June special, editor-in-chief also points out that the government’s role as a launching customer for climate-neutral ships as part of the Maritime Master Plan has not yet really materialised. Orders for such ships, in particular by the Government Shipping Agency (Rijksrederij), are not yet forthcoming.
And to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the Netherlands and the whole of Europe as well, more orders are still very much needed. Something that is endorsed by SEA Europe, the organisation of European shipbuilders. This organisation wants the EU to launch a Maritime Strategy that will see 10,000 ships built in Europe. These plans are also discussed in detail in SWZ|Maritime’s June issue.
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Photo by Netherlands Maritime Technology.
Also read: NMT: Dutch companies should build new Rijksrederij fleet
