Rush hour at the superyacht hub of Holland
With a record 25 AMELS and DAMEN projects underway, business is booming for the Dutch luxury yacht builder. This spring, the two brands representing the yachting division of the Damen Shipyards Group had no less than 16 yachting projects in The Netherlands and nine additional hulls under construction.
The current project numbers further establish AMELS and DAMEN as the largest luxury yacht builder and refit provider in the Netherlands and a true centre of excellence.
With a full house at its main yard in Vlissingen, the yacht builder is expanding at its second facility, Vlissingen East, a few kilometres away. Part of the Damen Shipyards Group, the Vlissingen East yard now includes a dedicated 200-metre building hall for Yachting as well as the largest covered dry dock in the Netherlands. At 215 metres in length, the dock can easily accommodate the largest yacht in the world.
On time and on budget
Spring deliveries completed so far at the builder’s two facilities in Vlissingen include refit projects DYTAN and VENTUM MARIS, as well as new build AMELS 180 PAPA, all on time and on budget. Since departing the yard on 10 May, PAPA journeyed to the Mediterranean to welcome her owner on board for the first time.
“AMELS have performed outstandingly,” says PAPA Build Captain Paul Bessant. “We’re on time and on budget. In fact four weeks ahead of schedule and not only that but in my opinion beyond expectations.”
During the next few weeks, AMELS and DAMEN will deliver five more new builds and three more refit projects.
“We’ve never been so busy,” explains Marketing Manager, Victor Caminada. “The superyacht-shaped inner harbour in front of the main yard plays testament to that. We recently had six superyachts lining the quayside with five more inside and another two refit projects at our Vlissingen East yard. That is almost 1,000 metres of superyacht and it doesn’t include the three yacht projects under construction at Damen Shipyards elsewhere in the Netherlands.” The Dutch centre of yacht building excellence.
At the superyacht hub of Holland, having a full house of yachts and close to 1,500 people (employees, co-makers and crew) on site is becoming the daily norm. However, AMELS and DAMEN remains focussed on controlled growth so that every yacht benefits from the very best facilities, standard of workmanship and specific required skill sets.
Rose Damen, Managing Director of Yachting and third generation family shareholder: “In times like this, we realise how lucky we are to have the incredible pool of talent at AMELS and DAMEN and our hard-working co-makers in the region. With all the unique superyacht knowhow on our doorstep, there really is no better place in the world to build and refit your superyacht. As we have grown, and continue to do so, we remain dedicated to our clients, past, present and future, in upholding our reputation for absolute top quality. Most of all, we want our clients to have a smooth and fun experience when they choose us.”
Before PAPA’s departure, Captain Bessant hosted a celebration. “At the delivery party I had the opportunity to thank not only AMELS but everybody who contributed to the yacht’s build and the delivery – from the painting team, to the teak, the metalwork, the interior teams. On the side of the building here itsaysThe Art of Yacht Building, and I think from the experience here for both myself and my crew, they should make room for The Art of Teamwork and for The Art of Friendship, because I really believe they’ve mastered both.”
