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maritime solutions, as explained by thecompany’s Technical Director, Mr FréDrenth. “We have a constant investmentprogramme in place, which allows us to continue implementing incrementalimprovements across our facilities as wemove forward,” informs Mr Drenth, whoholds a PhD in Naval Architecture, andhas worked with Shipyard de Hoopsince 1991, facilitating the engineeringand design of the vessels that the com-pany produces.

Vessels of innovationCatering to a diverse client base, Shipyardde Hoop innovates in vessel assembly,although not at the expense of efficiency

– the company takes pride in sustainingswift project completion times, and hasnot delivered any project late for over adecade. A single shareholder wholly ownsthe company’s facilities, and Shipyard deHoop operates with strong financialbacking. The company’s leading positionwithin the river cruise sector also denotesthat the growth of the business is amplyassured. “The river cruise market is veryvisibly growing,” Mr Drenth observes.“We continue to receive enquiriesregarding our capabilities in creatingthese vessels. Currently, we are buildingthree such river cruise vessels, which willbe completed by March 2014, ready fordelivery to our client. River cruise vessels

operate as part of a seasonal business,and the period in which these ships will enter operation begins in March.”That its clients entrust the construction

of ships required within very stringenttimeframes is certainly indicative ofShipyard de Hoop’s expertise, and thisnotion is also reflected in the more recentprojects undertaken by the company. DeltaLogistics of Trinidad represents one ofShipyard de Hoop’s most recent new buildclients, for example – it was announcedin October that a Platform Supply Vessel(PSV) is under construction, and will enteroperation in the Caribbean Sea close toTrinidad & Tobago in the third quarterof 2014. The vessel under construction‡

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LEADERS INLUXURY VESSELCONSTRUCTIONShipyard de Hoop’s assets comprise two facilities in TheNetherlands, specialising in offshore ships, river cruisevessels and technologically advanced watercraft. Thecompany’s talent for innovation has attracted aninternational client base, as divulged by Shipyard de Hoop’s Technical Director, Mr Fré Drenth. Tony White reports.

Operating Lobith Yard and FoxholYard in The Netherlands, the flexibilitydemonstrated by Shipyard de Hoop hasallowed the business to construct shipsfor a number of specialised sectors,including river cruise ships, offshorevessels, and diesel-electric hybrid ves-sels. The company is well versed in awide range of technical capabilities thatinclude Dynamic Positioning, diving sys-tems, cable lay, heavy lifting, well testing,well stimulation, and accommodationstandard from basic to high-end.Complementing its new builds with aroster of professional ship repair, engi-neering and consultancy services haspositioned Shipyard de Hoop favourably,

strengthening a positive reputation that hasgrown consistently since the yard’s estab-lishment as a Dutch-built facility in 1889.Lobith Yard was acquired fully by

Shipyard de Hoop’s CEO in 2007, andFoxhol Yard swiftly followed due to highactivity in the market. The oldest of thecompany’s facilities, the site at Lobith, wasreconstructed following its destructionduring the Second World War to becomea specialised fabricator of inland and sea-faring vessels, as well as manufacturinga series of diving support vessels duringthe 1980s. The company is also theEuropean market leader in river cruisevessels – indeed, Shipyard de Hoop con-tinues to operate as a provider of specialised

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utilises a design unique to Shipyard deHoop, which was previously demonstratedin a similar PSV built for Mexico’s petro-chemical goliath Pemex.Shipyard de Hoop’s river cruise vessel

proficiencies are renowned internationally,even beyond Europe – for example, theEmerald Sky, a 135 metre luxury rivercruise ship, was recently commissionedfor construction by Australia’s EmeraldWaterways. Replete with a cinema facility,swimming pool and several prestigioussuites, the Emerald Sky will be completein the first quarter of 2014. “The seasonalaspect of the river cruise sector attracts a great deal of repeat business for thecompany,” Mr Drenth remarks. “Wehave long-term relationships in place withnumerous of our prestigious clients, con-tractors, co-makers and suppliers. Forexample, we have celebrated over 10years of shipbuilding for Oceanografía,and have constructed over a kilometreof ships for Austrian shipping companyLueftner Cruises.Globally speaking, only 10 per cent of

Shipyard de Hoop’s vessels are deliveredto clients from The Netherlands, withinternational clients comprising the bal-ance of the company’s broadly reachingbusiness. “Our priority is the satisfactionof our clients, delivering a swift solutionwith innovations in design that differen-tiate our vessels from those constructedby our peers in the market,” Mr Drenthcontinues. “We believe that performingin this way is a key aspect of our opera-

tions, which contributes to the repeatbusiness demonstrated by our client base.”Shipyard de Hoop has delivered ships toclients such as Shell, Exxon-Mobil, VantageTravel, Bourbon, Lueftner Cruises,Uniworld, Spido, Socatra and HanzevastCapital, among others – a spectrum ofmajor maritime players from throughoutthe world.

Operational strategiesLobith Yard, which employs 140 perma-nent staff, has two slipways – the largestof which is 200 by 60 metres. Foxhol Yardbolsters Shipyard de Hoop’s capabilitieswith a further 65 permanently employedshipbuilding staff, and a 135 by 16 metreslipway – and both facilities source addi-tional personnel from trusted sourceswhen such needs arise. That said, employee satisfaction

would certainly seem a key aspect of thecompany’s success, and is a high priorityof the business. “Our facilities are locatedsome distance from the central region ofThe Netherlands,” Mr Drenth informs.“We are also not particularly situated inwhat could be referred to as the traditionalshipbuilding region of the country. As such,there is not a great deal of information,neither the capacity for education, inshipbuilding skills present – which iswhy we have handled all such mattersourselves for our staff.” This in-housetraining programme is made all the moreexpedient by the communities surroundingShipyard de Hoop’s facilities, from which

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‡

IMTECH MARINE PROVIDES RIVER CRUISEVESSELS BUILT AT DE HOOP WITH HVAC Imtech Marine will provide complete Heating, Ventilation and Airconci-tioning (HVAC) systems for three River Cruise Vessels (RCV’s), two of135 metre (BN462/464) and one of 110m (BN463). The two 135m RCV’swill be outfitted with a sprinkler system by Imtech Marine as well.Innovation and efficiency are key in this project, for example, by placingair ventilation units/chillers in such a way that it leaves more room onboard for other uses. Efficient installation makes it possible to achieveconsiderable energy savings and minimal maintenance. HVAC is a keycompetence in the total technology portfolio of Imtech Marine.

Wetcab Ltd. was established in 1994. It specializes in sanitary cabins manufacturing: crew sanitary cabins for cargo ships, naval vessels and offshore living quarters, as well as passenger cabins for cruise ships and ferries. Wetcab is also a producer of sanitary cabins designed for building industry, e.g. for hotels, hospitals and schools.

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procedure to be refined. There is a con-stant learning curve in place throughoutevery discipline in our production cycle.However, because we produce the designsas well as building the vessel, we feel thatthis differentiates us greatly from manyother shipyards.” Coupled with this isShipyard de Hoop’s unwavering focus onthe needs of the client. “Our priority is noton internal cost reduction,” Mr Drenthassures. “Instead, our main focus duringvessel construction is the maximisation ofthe ship’s earning potential for the client.”The reputation and niche that Shipyard

de Hoop has established has allowed thecompany to operate relatively independ-ently of many of the challenges that haveaffected the maritime marketplace –although the outlook of the companyreflects a business comfortable in itsposition, and aware of its capabilities.“We operate in an area with compara-

tively high labour costs, meaning that thelabour input in our vessels is often less than35 per cent – the majority of suchundertakings are provided for by ourequipment. When developing and pro-ducing the vessels, there should be agood balance between the steel produc-tion of the vessel on the one hand, andall the other hours necessary to developthe vessel on the other hand,” MrDrenth imparts. “Our target markettherefore remains the production of ves-sels with high technological content andmany integrated systems.”

Technologically triumphantAn example of this combination of min-imal labour and maximal technology isevidenced in a supply ship that Shipyardde Hoop is in the process of developingfor a Mexican oil company. “We believe

that this particular vessel is the first diesel-electric hybrid of its kind,” Mr Drenthimparts. “Consequently, it functions witha very low degree of fuel consumption.We foresee that these hybrid propulsionconcepts will continue to grow in demandthroughout the marine market going for-ward.” Shipyard de Hoop has been adeptin the creation of diesel-electric shipssince 1981, and they represent anothercore specialisation of the company. “Infact, all of our current vessel projectsutilise diesel-electric technology, withthe exception of our river cruise vessels,”Mr Drenth clarifies.However, the vision of the future for

Shipyard de Hoop is apparent – there isa clear intention of continuing to leveragethe advantages of the hybrid diesel-elec-tric engines for which the company isknown, transferring the technology tonew applications. “We plan to imple-ment these hybrid drive systems notonly in the fast crew boats that we build,but also in the river cruise vessels in whichwe specialise,” Mr Drenth projects. “Thereis a great deal of activity present in theoffshore support vessels sector, which

will also continue to keep us engaged.We also specialise in the development of fast sailing ships – we feel the markethas need of such vessels once again foran increasing range of industries andapplications, and with the increasedcomplexity afforded by modern tech-nology. We are able to construct suchvessels at a low cost.”By understanding its own strengths

and demonstrating selectiveness in itsactive markets, Shipyard de Hoop haspositioned itself as a maritime businesswith longevity that seems certain to con-tinue. Specialising in a suite of nichesolutions, these two yards have fostereda strong global following, and as tech-nology and ingenuity combine, the com-pany’s talent for devising new strategiesand solutions seems set to ensure thatclients will continue to return,entrusting their needs to Shipyard deHoop’s expertise. “Innovation is, in ouropinion, the way to survive,” Mr Drenthfinalises – and in so doing, encapsulatesthe ethos that has seen the companythrive for generations, and shall for generations still. o

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the majority of staff are sourced – andwhere the majority of them continue to live, assuring the company long-termemployee retention that often leads intoa multi-generational workforce. “Byensuring the motivation, fulfilment andvocational satisfaction of our employees,we have discovered that most of our staffwill remain with the company for theentirety of their working lives,” MrDrenth says. “We see fathers workingalongside their sons, and nephewsworking alongside their uncles. We dele-gate to our workforce as much as pos-sible, fostering their intercommunicationof skills and talents in the process. Assuch, they do not require an exhaustiveamount of information to conduct their

work, as they are acutely familiar with thepractices of the industry, and the cultureof differentiation that we encourage inour operations. The end result is the reduc-tion of engineering requirements acrossthe board, which is a key ingredient inour rapid project realisation strategy.”And while the two main De Hoop

sites have a combined quay length of450 metres, the shipyards have an addi-tional 200m quay at their disposal in theRotterdam harbour area on the Oostdijk.This location is mainly used to outfitthose vessels built in Lobith or Foxhol.“This site is the ideal location for per-forming the last finishing touches is our and home base for sea trails,” Mr Drenth remarks.

Dynamically differentThe mantra of differentiation and uniquesolution development certainly forms aprominent element in the corporate char-acter of Shipyard de Hoop. “We have beendesigning and building vessels for a verylong time – we have had ample time inwhich to hone our craft, and learn fromour mistakes,” Mr Drenth comments.“The cost of a ship is constituted of manysmaller aspects and complexities, whichis why communication is crucial to us –production personnel are in direct con-nection with engineering staff, and if anyissues are encountered during a build, theycan thereby be discussed and resolvedquite rapidly. Consequently, the issueitself will be recognised as a strategy or

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