A joint venture between Damen Shipyards and Sinotrans CSC, Damen Yichang Shipyard in China has expanded its portfolio of vessels to reach a larger market.
The shipyard will now be able to construct hi-tech vessels in addition to the Damen-design cargo vessels.
Damen Shipyards Group executive director Hans Voorneveld said: "Over the years we have achieved a good reputation for delivery time, reliability and quality.
"We’re looking at dredgers, pontoons and barges, LNG / LPG tankers and offshore support vessels, such as platform suppliers."
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Under the current portfolio, the Yichang yard constructs cargo vessels from 8,000dwt to 15,000dwt.
The expansion also aims to broaden the shipyard’s reach beyond the Western European marketplace, the company stated.
According to Damen, the shipyard’s existing capacity is sufficient to simultaneously build ten pontoons and two dredgers, LNG / LPG tankers, or offshore support vessels.
"Everything is already in place, the yard is completely up and running," Voorneveld added.
"We have been building high-quality vessels at Damen Shipyards Yichang for a long time, this is more about adjusting the organisation to new products."
Damen and Sinotrans will invest in this Chinese facility to develop the building and design process for complex vessels.
Established in 1999, Yichang Shipyard currently has six berths for section building and assembly, along with a sideways launching system.
The yard currently consumes some 50,000t of steel and constructs nine to 12 vessels a year.
Image: The Damen Yichang Shipyard in China. Photo: courtesy of Damen Shipyards Group.
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