BBL students are thriving at Damen Naval: Rik Klaaijssen passes proficiency test

Things are going well for the Scalda technical college students taking their secondary level vocational training (BBL) courses at Damen Naval. The first batch from 2021-2022 have successfully completed the second year and the second cohort of students who started in September 2022 are enjoying themselves. In fact, one of them, construction worker Rik Klaaijssen, has already passed his third-year aptitude test. He completed the first two years of his training elsewhere, but transferred to Damen Naval in September for his third year.

“When I started my BBL training, there were no opportunities at Damen Naval. At the company I was at first, it didn’t quite click, so when the option came up to join Damen, I took the chance. I like it here, I have great colleagues and there is a lot of variety,” says Rik (21). For his proficiency test, Rik had to build the foundation of a water cooler. He had to prepare the work, read the drawings and order and collect the necessary materials. Every step had to be well documented. “As part of the assignment, I also had to supervise an apprentice. I had to do everything myself, but it went well.”

Senior Foreman Cees van Cadsand, who supervises the construction worker apprentices, was proud of Rik. “He did an excellent job. As his supervisor, I knew before him that he had passed. It is my first BBL apprentice to go for his proficiency test and he passed right away.”

The BBL apprentices divide their time between school, trade work and the shipyard in Vlissingen-Oost to learn the trade of Welder or Construction Worker. In 2021-2022, Damen Naval began training students at the shipyard again for the first time in a decade. Eight of the nine students who started the year completed it; the ninth returned a year later, along with five new students.

Construction workers Jonas van der Heijden (22), Hubert Dametka (22), Michael Uijleman (21) and Martyllo Henriquez (19) started their second year at Damen Naval this school year. “It’s going well,” Hubert says. “I’m still enjoying myself at Damen Naval. I passed all my subjects last year. I helped for two months during the midlife update of the Johan de Witt, but now I’m mainly working on the superyacht.” Jonas also still likes the work. “I finished very well at school last year and at work things are going perfectly, this year is also going well. I’ve never had grades as good as this at school than I have now. I still find the work very interesting. I am helping build the yacht and do lots of different jobs. Every month is different and that suits me fine.”

Among the welders, Krezo Blokpoel and Coen Thiellier already passed their proficiency test last year and both are now permanently employed by Damen Naval. The other apprentices are in their first or second year of training. Welder-in-training Youri van Putten (18) successfully completed his first year and has enjoyed the challenges of his second year. “I passed the required certificates and that allowed us to do some more things. It’s a bit harder this year, but it’s still fun. I want to keep improving myself.”

Jurgen Dronkers (18) decided halfway through last year that he would rather try another course after all, but it was not what he expected and so he returned to Damen Naval this year. “I really enjoy tinkering with cars, so thought the motor vehicle course would suit me better. But when I started it, it was disappointing. I asked if it was possible to come back to Damen and fortunately I could. Unfortunately, I did have to start again in the first year of welding training, but I am very grateful that it was possible.”

This year, in addition to Jurgen, three new BBL welders started: Angelo Tokaay, Harley Haasters and Marco Jobse. At 48, Angelo is not a standard BBL apprentice, but his enthusiasm and life experience make him a welcome addition to the team. “I have a background in the metal industry and started training as a welder in Curaçao when I was younger, only I never finished it. Because I don’t have the certificates, I can’t get a job in the Netherlands, so I started this training. I really like it. The theory is hard work, but the practical part is going really well. In any case, I am trying very hard to get the certificates.”

17-year-old Harley is in the first-year of the welder training, but already has big plans. “I am now at level 2 and after that I will go for level 3. I would like to continue learning and get all the certificates for each welding method. I would also like to become an underwater welder, but the requirements for that are very strict.”

Marco (18) has just completed his first year as a welder and finds that welding has some important advantages. “In winter, it’s nice and warm to weld. And it’s fun to get to play with fire a bit. I haven’t been here that long, but I love it. I’m really enjoying myself.”

The apprentices are supervised by a team of experienced people. The welders are supervised by Foreman Ramon van de Zande, Foreman Jimmy Post and Welder Johan Oosterling. The construction workers are supervised by Cees and Metalworker Johan Nicolaas. 65-year-old Johan Nicolaas enjoys teaching the apprentices and they appreciate his patience and how he calmly and clearly shares his knowledge with them and explains the work.

“In the beginning, I was working with just one student, but there have become more and more of them. They enjoy working with me because I tell them all kinds of things. The boys want to learn, so that makes it fun to help support them,” Johan says. “I think they should be happy to work here. I have been working here for 48 years now and at the end of this year I want to stop. Preparing the next generation of workers is a nice way to end my career.”