Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV) was able to close 2021 with some positive figures. “It was a busy year in which we worked on some nice projects,” recalls Managing Director Peter Sterkenburg. “Of course, it was also a difficult year because of Covid-19. One of the challenges was to get everything properly planned. But in the end, it all worked out well and we met and even exceeded our targets. This is in no small part thanks to the fantastic efforts of all our employees.”

DSV was busy in 2021 with the refurbishment of the Portuguese M frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida, a wonderful project that is on the cusp of completion. There are only a few remaining points to be finished on the ship, says Peter. DSV is carrying out that work at the Rijkswerf in Den Helder, where the frigate has been taken for installation of armaments, sensors and communication equipment by the Dutch Naval Maintenance and Sustainment Agency (Directie Materiële Instandhoudhouding in Dutch). The execution of the remaining points is taking place under the supervision of DSV Production Coordinator Patrick Brasser. “That is all running smoothly,” says Peter.

The refurbishment of the Portuguese M frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida is on the cusp of completion. The refurbishment of the Portuguese M frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida is on the cusp of completion.

The NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida was, he says, “a sometimes challenging project”, with DSV dealing with two different customers: the Portuguese Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy. DSV also carried out extensive refits on two mega-yachts last year. Maintenance was also carried out on two cable layers, “quite a job” according to Peter. And then of course there were the regular customers, such as Van Oord and Multraship, for whom DSV carried out regular repair and maintenance work in 2021. “That work was very diverse. Sometimes it comprised of only replacing a small stairway, while on another ship it was working on the propulsion system.”

"We met and even exceeded our targets. This is in no small part thanks to the fantastic efforts of all our employees.” Peter Sterkenburg
Fishing trawler Frank Bonefaas owned by shipping company Vrolijk from Scheveningen underwent extensive maintenance at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen. Fishing trawler Frank Bonefaas owned by shipping company Vrolijk from Scheveningen underwent extensive maintenance at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen.

Summing up, Peter states: “We have just had an excellent year and I can say that we even exceeded our targets.” He expects that 2022 will also be a good year for DSV. They started the new year refitting two mega-yachts in Vlissingen-Oost, and the naval vessel HNLMS Johan de Witt will arrive at the yard in early February. This Royal Netherlands Navy amphibious transport ship is due for a midlife update (MLU) and maintenance.
The extensive job on this Damen Naval-built ship is a collaboration between DSV and Damen Naval. Damen Naval is in charge of the MLU, while DSV is in charge of the maintenance. “We will start our work on this vessel at Quay E, but as soon as the two mega-yachts have left Dock 2 around the end of June, this work will continue in Dock 2,” Peter explains. “The Johan de Witt will remain there until the end of the year.”

He concludes: “With the workload we already have, plus the regular work that will come over the course of this year, we will certainly be able to make 2022 another successful year.”