Dutch maritime targets technology innovation

Speakers included Peter Paul van Voorst, founder of Skoon Energy; Toine Cleophas, manager of research at Damen Shipyards Group; and students from Delft University of Technology, who demonstrated new emergency flotation and stability devices. The event was attended by Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, the Netherlands’ Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, who met Damen Shipyards Group and other Dutch maritime industry leaders.

René Berkvens, CEO of the Damen Group, said: “Face-to-face meetings like this help to inform the government policies, programmes, regulations and infrastructure changes needed to foster new technologies and business growth.”

Varied topics

Particular topics included ‘better ships, cleaner oceans’, private-public partnerships, autonomous shipping, electric shipping, digitalisation, and ship management mobile apps.

Minister van Nieuwenhuizen heard presentations from Damen, Van Oord and other key representatives of the country’s thriving maritime industry.

Three industry leaders gave the minister presentations on innovations and developments in: maritime technology, including Bas Buchner, president of the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands. Willem Buijs, CEO of Hatenboer-Water, also spoke about water technology, while Hendrik Postma, chairman of the Association of Marine Contractors, spoke about delta technology.

The presentations took place on a Damen FCS 2610 vessel, which then took attendees to the head office of Van Oord in Rotterdam.