On April 3, 2025, the House of Representatives adopted the motion by Boomsma (NSC) et al. calling for the legal securing of space for framework-related companies and companies with a high environmental category in the upcoming National Spatial Policy Document. This explicitly mentions the maritime manufacturing industry as a sector of strategic importance.

This motion recognizes that maritime and offshore companies, often dependent on water-bound locations and specific infrastructure, are under pressure from spatial transformations. The Chamber emphasizes the importance of this sector to the strategic autonomy and sustainable earning capacity of the Netherlands.

The motion aligns perfectly with the Maritime Manufacturing Sector Agenda, which calls for spatial protection of maritime business parks. The agenda states, ” Quays and maritime business parks are essential. This activity cannot relocate and deserves structural assurance in policy ” (p. 21).

As NMT-IRO, we welcome this political signal. This is an important step towards future-proof investments in sustainability and innovation within our sector. We thank the movers of the motion, MPs Boomsma(NSC), Meulenkamp(VVD) and Vedder(CDA).

It remains a mystery that the state wants submarines made by French Naval which is a state-owned company and obviously a private company like Damen cannot compete with that. Simply put there is no level playing field and we call that distortion of competition.

As DRN, we will continue to monitor developments.

Damen Naval has awarded two major contracts to Van Halteren Technologies for the Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (ASWF)

Program: the delivery of “Replenishment at Sea” (RAS) systems and “Helicopter Transfer Systems” (HTS). The ASW frigates, developed on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Defense for the Royal Navy and the Belgian Navy, set a new European standard in advanced anti-submarine warfare.

Van Halteren Technologies was selected because of its expertise and strong track record, including previous successful collaborations with Damen Naval. Recently, the company successfully completed RAS testing for the Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder. For the ASWF program, the integration of “RAS receivers” into superstructures is a key technical innovation.

Van Halteren Technologies Boxtel (VHT) is a Dutch company focused on designing and manufacturing specialized systems, technical solutions and services for defense and industry.

VHT’s RAS systems enable the safe transfer of liquids and solids at sea. They are fully customizable and work reliably even under severe operational conditions. In addition, VHT’s “Helicopter Transfer Systems” are suitable for both manned and unmanned helicopters.

“These contracts are another step in the development of a future-proof platform that contributes to European safety and cooperation. We enjoy working with partners like Van Halteren Technologies, who like us are committed to innovation,” said Fer Tummers, Project Director ASWF at Damen Naval.

“As a project, the Proven in Practice RAS and HTS systems will be fully integrated into the ASWF platform. For VHT, the contribution to the ASWF program is an excellent example to demonstrate the knowledge and expertise for Drive and Control technology in cooperation with Damen Naval,” said Charles Simons, Sales Manager Naval Systems at VHT.

The new ASW frigates will replace the current Karel Doorman-class ships. They are specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare, but can also be deployed against threats from the air and from the water. The frigates have low noise emissions, advanced sensors, smart automation and high survivability. They are also suitable for missions such as counter-piracy and counter-terrorism, as well as maritime security tasks.

The ASWF program is a concrete example of European defense cooperation in practice and provides an opportunity for other EU and NATO countries to join. Delivery of the first ship is scheduled for 2028.

Damen signed a contract on April 15 with Arena Offshore A.S. in Instanbul for the construction of Stan Tugs 1606.
This is for the local construction of two Stan Tugs 1606. Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC) will supervise and provide assistance. In doing so, Damen offers customers worldwide customized support and shares the knowledge and technology needed to build its proven vessels at a external yard. Tug evolution With Damen’s design and license, Arena Offshore will build the Stan Tugs 1606 at its own facilities in Istanbul. After that, the company will offer the vessels for sale. Arena Offshore is a specialist in ship brokerage, chartering and shipbuilding. Since its inception in 1998, the company has built and delivered more than 50 newbuildings worldwide. The Stan Tug 1606 is a vessel that has proven itself in service for many years. The vessel has continuously evolved through the generations based on customer feedback. The 16.76 x 5.94 meter tug offers a bollard pull ahead of 16 tons. It is a versatile vessel, well suited for towing, mooring, pushing and inspection operations. Quality vessels and economic boost M. Ömer Ince, owner of Arena Offshore, said, “It is a great honor and pleasure for us that Damen has chosen and trusted an external company, Arena Offshore, to build two Stan Tugs 1606, one of their best-known models. As a token of this trust, we are delighted to complete the construction of the two units in Istanbul.

Fugro and Damen have joined forces to provide the Royal Netherlands Navy (KM) with a surveillance vessel and crew.
The Ministry of Defense has entered into this new partnership to strengthen its maritime security and surveillance capabilities. The KM will deploy the surveillance vessel for security operations within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Dutch North Sea, both above and below water.
Using advanced technology, such as unmanned vehicles, it will enable KM to monitor vessel activity in the North Sea and inspect critical underwater infrastructure such as cables and pipelines. Fugro and Damen have formed a joint venture to provide the vessel and crew for a two-year charter period, with an option for two one-year extensions (a total of four years). The charter agreement, awarded through competitive tender, will commence in the first half of 2025. The vessel that will perform the charter is a Damen FCS 5009, which offers unmatched seaworthiness thanks to the Sea Axe bow design, which was developed in collaboration with Delft University of Technology. “We are very proud of this collaboration with Fugro and the confidence the Ministry of Defense has placed in us to execute this important contract,” said Arnout Damen, CEO of Damen Shipyards Group. “Damen’s way of working means we can deliver a vessel quickly and work with Fugro at short notice to monitor and protect the Netherlands’ strategic interests in the North Sea.” “At Fugro, our mission is to create a safe and livable world. Keeping our underwater infrastructure safe in the North Sea is essential to this, and by working with Damen and the Royal Navy we can contribute to national security and surveillance. We have previously presented our experience in monitoring critical underwater infrastructure to the Dutch Ministry of Defense and look forward to continuing to work with them. We are also excited to partner with Damen in this endeavor. Damen has a long history of supplying vessels to the Royal Navy and Fugro. By joining forces, we demonstrate the innovative strength of the Dutch maritime industry,” said Mark Heine, CEO of Fugro.