Special barge built to recover space rockets

The Jacklyn barge will serve as a sea-based landing platform for the recovery of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rockets, which have been designed to be reusable for a minimum of 25 flights.

“We are proud to contribute to this pioneering space mission,” said Marnix Brouwer, Damen’s area manager North America. “Damen Shipyards is honoured by the trust Blue Origin has placed in our team, and we wish them great success with the New Glenn programme.”

Specialised solutions

On 4 September, the vessel arrived at its home port in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

By providing a solid, reliable platform, Jacklyn supports Blue Origin’s goal of reducing waste and costs in spaceflight. The vessel build is a key component in Blue Origin’s ambition to make rocket recovery as routine as commercial airline operations.

Named in honour of Jeff Bezos’s mother, Jacklyn replaces the name previously given to a ferry that Blue Origin planned to use as a landing ship for New Glenn. The company scrapped the ferry in 2022, moving forward with the plan for the new Damen barge.

Construction of the barge began in Romania in early 2023, with finishing touches completed at Damen Shipyards in Brest, France. After successful sea trials, Jacklyn departed for Florida in August 2024, arriving ahead of the New Glenn rocket’s debut launch.

This vessel build further cements Damen’s reputation as a leading provider of specialised maritime solutions, with the Jacklyn barge set to play a vital role in the future of space exploration.