New managing director for Damen Shipyards Singapore

Paul Boughton
Maarten Jongen has officially been appointed Managing Director of Damen Shipyards Singapore (DSSi). In his new role Mr Jongen will focus on marketing, services and further improving efficiency at the yard that has been building (aluminium) Damen vessels since 2000. DSSi has been part of the Damen Shipyards Group since 2000.
 
Mr Jongen, 35, originally joined Damen in 2002 straight from Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands) where he studied Naval Architecture and Marine Technology. He has several years of experience in the Asian market through his last position, since 2007, as Regional Sales Manager Asia Pacific.
 
Mr Jongen’s major aim is to make Damen Shipyards Singapore into an even more efficient production yard.

“The cost price should be as low as possible, while maintaining Damen’s proven quality of course,” he says. “The construction of larger series of vessels enables us to evaluate and improve our production processes in a better way compared to when we are building one-offs. Our emphasis on environmentally friendly production and safety is added to this and will improve the level both our efficiency and quality.”
 
The shipyard will also start sourcing and purchasing locally more than it has done in the past. In addition, DSSi will be carrying out detailed engineering of vessels, so it can customise and tailor-make standard built vessels to specific client requests.
 
DSSi specialises in building aluminium vessels of up to 55m, repairs and conversions. Additionally, the yard offers maintenance for aluminium and Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) vessels. It has a broad ranging product portfolio including Fast Ferries, water taxis, Fast Crew Suppliers, catamarans, high-speed craft, workboats and patrol vessels. If required DSSi can subcontract steel hulled vessels and do the outfitting and commissioning in Singapore as has been the case for several 50m crew boats.
 
Currently, a monohull ferry for the local Singapore market is being designed in close cooperation with the Damen head office in The Netherlands. “This low-cost ferry is specifically designed for the local market and complies with latest regulations on safety. Important improvements in comfort and fuel economy are to be expected by using the latest design developments within the Damen Group”, adds Mr Jongen.
 
The shipyard has two covered building halls, already has the ISO9001 certificate and it is presently working on ISO14001 and Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS) 18001 program. Recently the yard has reduced its environmental footprint by installing low energy lighting, which is 80% more economical.

For more information, visit www.damen.nl

Recent Issues