Damen Shipbuilding Group is establishing a permanent presence in Houston, Texas. The office opened on 1 August and will be headed by senior managers Jan van Hogerwou (New Construction) and Ruud Haneveer (Ship Repair & Conversion).
This move is part of Damen’s policy of expanding its local footprint around the world, bringing it closer to current and prospective clients and enabling it to deliver a more responsive and personal service.
The first order to be handled by the new entity is for four new Damen 3711 Stan Tugs by Young Brothers, Limited, Hawaii’s largest inter-island cargo service provider. Young Brothers is a Saltchuk company operated by Foss Maritime.
The tugs will be built at Conrad Shipyard, Louisiana, under a license and materials agreement with Damen. The first vessel will be delivered in the first quarter of 2018 and the last twelve months later. Together the 37m 6,000hp tugs will service Young Brothers’ fleet of modern, high-capacity tugs & barges.
