On 2 April, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands christened the SRS Janet Taylor, the Sea Ranger Service’s new sailing offshore work vessel. This “small ship with a big mission” will enable the Sea Rangers to make great strides in their commitment to employment and conservation in the coming years.
The innovative social enterprise also concluded new cooperation agreements with the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
Queen Máxima performed the christening at the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam under the watchful eye of Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten, Deputy Commissioner of the King in South Holland Arne Weverling, Sea Ranger Service founder and CEO Wietse van der Werf, more than fifty (former) Sea Rangers and some 300 guests. After the christening, the Queen spoke to some of the Sea Rangers and service partners present about the social and sustainable impact of their important work at sea.
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The ship
The SRS Janet Taylor is the second ship of the Sea Ranger Service and named after Janet Taylor (1804-1870). This British astronomer, mathematician and instrument maker was one of the few women of her time to be involved in navigation and scientific instruments. Despite the lack of recognition, she was a pioneer who paved the way for future women scientists and engineers.
The ship plays an important role in the Sea Ranger Service’s ambition: to restore biodiversity in 10,000 hectares of ocean and guide 2500 young people to work. On board, young Sea Rangers aged 18 to 29, some from underprivileged coastal areas, will be trained as maritime professionals. They will then work for a year in paid service on research, monitoring protected areas and restoring maritime biodiversity. In addition, together with universities and knowledge partners, they develop new methods to further improve marine and coastal nature conservation. The Sea Rangers operate in six countries.
The SRS Janet Taylor weighs 30 tonnes, is 23 metres long and can accommodate four Sea Rangers and four professional crew members. It is the Netherlands’ first and only sailing working vessel suitable for offshore work, with unlimited sailing area thanks to its open sea classification and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
From Sea Ranger to the navy
In addition, the Sea Ranger Service is taking steps towards realising its ambitions with a number of new cooperation agreements. With the Royal Netherlands Navy, the service will work together for at least five years on recruiting young people. The two parties also expressed their intention to allow more Sea Rangers to progress to positions within the navy after a year in paid service.
Commander Carolien Verberne, Director of Personnel and Organisation at the Royal Netherlands Navy Command: ‘At the Royal Netherlands Navy, we believe in the power of cooperation and innovation. Our collaboration with the Sea Ranger Service offers a unique opportunity to develop young talents, explore sustainable maritime solutions and contribute to a future-proof navy. Together, we are setting course for a stronger and more sustainable maritime domain.’
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Framework agreement with Port of Rotterdam
Port of Rotterdam signed a framework agreement. The Sea Ranger Service will work in the port of Rotterdam on assignments to support the transition to a climate-neutral port.
‘The Sea Ranger Service makes an impact for young people and for nautical services,’ says (State) Harbour Master René de Vries of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. ‘This organisation is also committed to the environment and sustainability in a distinctive way. This appeals to us as the Port of Rotterdam Authority and fits in with our purpose: “Connecting the world. Building tomorrow’s sustainable port.”‘
Impact fund
Finally, the Sea Ranger Service has launched a new impact fund with Harry Wright. Wright is CEO and founder of Bright Tide, an eco-friendly social enterprise that works with organisations to develop new internal and external strategies to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. The impact fund will be used to finance three new Sea Ranger Service ships yet to be built, as well as the working capital needed to grow within Europe.
Wietse van der Werf, founder and CEO of the Sea Ranger Service: ‘We are very pleased with our new ship and the amazing christening ceremony by Her Majesty Queen Máxima. But the SRS Janet Taylor is not just a sympathetic ship. The more than twenty government contracts the Sea Rangers have carried out in recent years, including for the French and British governments, are recognition that our green and social concept appeals and gets results. The agreements with the Royal Netherlands Navy and Port of Rotterdam and the new impact fund mean we can expand in the coming years and make even greater strides for employment and conservation.’
Picture: Queen Máxima performing the christening ceremony with the SRS Janet Taylor in the background (photo by Sea Rangers).
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