On 9 February, Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans and Maritime Manufacturing Envoy Marja van Bijsterveldt launched project STREAM. The initiative is to advance automation and robotisation in shipbuilding to cut costs and tackle labour shortages.
The working visit took place at the Neptune Marine yard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where the project will be rolled out further in the coming years.
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STREAM
The STREAM project is one of the initiatives under the Smart Delta Drechtsteden “De Witt Future Pact” and is being carried out by four leading shipyards in the Drechtsteden region: Neptune, Royal IHC, Kooiman and Mercury. In addition, the field labs SAM XL and RoboHouse, based on the TU Delft Campus, are involved as knowledge partners, with Deal acting as (technical) project leader.
By establishing self-learning, efficient production lines based on AI and machine learning, and by developing advanced welding machines, cobots and robots for shipbuilding, the aim is to reduce labour costs in hull construction by ten to fifteen per cent by 2030 compared with 2023 levels.
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Strengthening future resilience
The minister and the envoy were welcomed by Dordrecht mayor Nanning Mol, regional chair of Smart Delta Drechtsteden. Envoy Van Bijsterveldt then provided an update on the progress of the Maritime Manufacturing Industry Sector Agenda, “No Guts, No Hollandse Glorie”, followed by Alderman for Maritime Manufacturing Maarten Burggraaf, who outlined the De Witt Future Pact 2035.
Benjamin Grefkens, CEO of Neptune Marine, elaborated on STREAM, part of the “Shipyard of the Future” project. The meeting concluded after a yard tour and the official launch ceremony performed by Minister Karremans.
Sector Agenda put into practice
Following the visit, Envoy Van Bijsterveldt commented: ‘This is a fine example of how the Maritime Manufacturing Industry Sector Agenda is being put into practice. Here, the maritime sector and the Drechtsteden region once again demonstrate their innovative strength and strategic importance. The application of the latest automation and robotisation technologies will not only reduce costs, but also make the sector more future-proof.’
Mol added: ‘With STREAM, the Drechtsteden and the Netherlands are taking an important step towards a modern and future-proof shipbuilding sector, in which automation and robotisation enhance competitiveness.’
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First project within Shipyard of the Future
STREAM is the first concrete implementation project within the regional “Shipyard of the Future Drechtsteden–Rotterdam” partnership. The Drechtsteden/Rotterdam region forms a strong coalition of nine shipyards: Damen Shipyards Group, Neptune Marine, Royal IHC, Shipyard Gebroeders Kooiman, Den Breejen Shipyard, Shipyard Slob, Oceanco Group (of which Mercury Yacht Construction is part), Holland Shipyards Group and De Haas Shipyards. The yards are supported in the process by regional development agency InnovationQuarter and regional network organisation Deal.
Picture (top): Minister Karremans and Benjamin Grefkens of Neptune Marine kick off the STREAM project. (photo by Smart Delta Drechtsteden/SkyProductions).
